The WNBA continued its upward trend in relevancy during the 2025 season, with viewership up 16% overall. But there has been an even larger boost in popularity during the championship series between the Las Vegas Aces and Phoenix Mercury, which has featured viewership numbers not seen in nearly 30 years.
WNBA Finals Game 1 Viewership Sees Highest Mark Since 1997
According to the Nielson ratings for Game 1 of the WNBA Finals that took place last Friday, there were an average of 1.9 million viewers throughout the broadcast. The number peaked at 2.5 million.
It is the highest number that the league has seen for a first game of a championship series since its inaugural season, when the now-defunct Houston Comets defeated the New York Liberty to win the first WNBA championship. That 1997 event was a one-game format, and peaked at 2.8 million viewers.
Game 1 of the WNBA Finals drew 1.9M viewers—up 62% from last year.
It's the WNBA's best opening viewership for the championship series since its inaugural season in 1997.
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) October 8, 2025
By comparison, last year’s Game 5 thriller between the Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx averaged 2.2 million viewers. That was the only Finals game with a higher rating than 2025’s Game 1 since 2000.
Last year’s Game 1 had 62% fewer viewers than 2025’s Game 1.
Aces Have Taken First Two Games Against Phoenix
Those that tuned in on Friday were treated to a back and forth contest. The Aces were eventually victorious by an 89-96 margin, taking Game 1 of what is a best-of-seven format for the first time in league history. Things weren’t as close in Game 2, as Las Vegas was in control throughout the entire second half of a 91-78 game that put them two victories away from their third title in four years.
This trio is ballin' out 👏
The Aces are up 2-0 and with a 91% chance of winning the Best-of-7 WNBA Finals, per ESPN Analytics. pic.twitter.com/kc7Hqv3ieX
— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) October 8, 2025
A’ja Wilson, who was named WNBA MVP for the league record fourth time, has scored a combined 49 points and grabbed 24 rebounds through the first two contests. But it was the Jackie Young show in Game 2, as the guard scored 32 points, the 6th highest individual scoring effort in Finals history.
Game 3 is scheduled for Wednesday night in Phoenix, with Game 4 set to take place on Friday night. If necessary, Game 5 will be back in Las Vegas on Sunday afternoon.
