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The recently concluded WNBA Finals between the Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream set new records for viewership and attendance. According to USA Today, the series was the most-watched since 1999, averaging 1.88 million viewers. The decisive Game Seven drew an all-time high of 3.3 million viewers.
The finals also broke attendance records, with the seven games drawing 123,553 fans and averaging 17,650 per game. This year's WNBA postseason was the most-watched since the league's inaugural season in 1997, averaging 1.49 million viewers.
The Valkyries' championship win also led to record merchandise sales, with sales exceeding those from the 30 days following last year's championship by 42 percent. The Valkyries became the best-selling WNBA champion within 48 hours of their victory.
The WNBA's 30th season saw extraordinary fan engagement, with more than 90 million unique viewers across all national networks during the regular season. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert highlighted the league's growth, stating, "There is tremendous pride in what we've accomplished together and even greater excitement for all that lies ahead."
The WNBA Finals will return to ESPN in 2027, as part of a broader media rights package with NBCUniversal, finalized in September 2025.