October 12th 2023.
The WNBA Finals Game 1 between the New York Liberty and the Las Vegas Aces was a historic one that shattered records. According to ESPN, the game had an average viewership of 729,000, spiking at 885,000 people. This was the most-viewed WNBA Finals Game 1 ever on an ESPN network and the most-viewed game since 2000 when it aired on the Lifetime Network.
The matchup between the two teams with the best records in the WNBA also drew viewers in for the pre-game show. ESPN reported that the average number of viewers for the show was 371,000, the highest it’s been since it was introduced in 2022. Sports Media Watch reported that the contest averaged a 0.45 rating on ABC, and the average viewership of 729,000 was the largest on an ESPN network.
The New York Liberty was led by Breanna Stewart who scored a team-high 21 points. Jonquel Jones put up 16 points, while the Las Vegas Aces’ Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young each scored 26 points, which were personal playoff highs for the two. The Aces ultimately won with a score of 99-82.
This year’s Game 1 surpassed last year’s numbers with an increase of 41% in ratings and 31% in viewership. The average viewership was 555,000 in 2022, when the Aces beat the Connecticut Sun. With the two best teams in the league fighting it out to win the championship, it’s no wonder why this year’s game was such a hit.
As the next game approaches on October 11th, WNBA fans are sure to be tuning in to see if the Aces can pull off another championship-winning victory. With WNBA Rookie of the Year, Aliyah Boston, now joining ESPN as an analyst for the upcoming Big Ten basketball season, the WNBA is likely to see even more success in the coming year.
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