The likes of Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Cameron Brink, Kamilla Cardoso and Nika Muhl have all played their part in rocketing the WNBA’s popularity and moolah this season. The league’s latest report shows the impact the 2024 Draft class has had on viewership, ticket sales and social media engagement, and the numbers can aptly be described as beyond impressive.
Throw in jersey sales, and that accounts for a blooming business even for the franchises that have announced that they are re-stocking player jerseys on demand — the most recent being Aces and Fever guards Kate Martin and Caitlin Clark.
Earlier, a tweet by entrepreneur and investor Joe Pompliano highlighted the benefits the league reaped this season.
The WNBA has released a report saying:
“• Attendance is up 156% from last year, and more than half of all WNBA games this year have been sellouts.
• About 400,000 fans have attended WNBA games this season, filling WNBA arenas to 94% capacity.
• This year’s televised games (ABC, ESPN, etc.) are averaging 1.32 million viewers, nearly triple last season’s average of 462,000.
• WNBA Countdown is averaging 741,000 viewers, a 211% increase from last year’s full season average.
• The WNBA’s online merchandise store has already set a single-season sales record (with 4+ months left in the season), and sales are up 756% compared to last year.”
Moreover, it said:
“• The WNBA’s social channels garnered 157 million video views through the first week of the season, an all-time high and up 380% compared to last year.
• The WNBA set an all-time high for League Pass subscriptions last month with a 355% increase vs. last season.”
The report also added that the viewership this season was diverse, with the number of people tuning in on TC growing over 60% year over year among people of color. The stat where an estimated 400,000 fans attended games slated in May was the most for first-month attendees in 26 years.
The action though is far from over, as the 2024 season promises another spike in ratings and viewership as college-to-WNBA rivals Clark and Angel Reese square off for the second time this season. The former Iowa Hawkeyes star had the last laugh in their first skirmish, which also had some drama between Clark Caitlin Clark and Sky star Chennedy Carter.
NBA chief growth officer had predicted a good season ahead of the 2024 Draft ft. Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark
Leading up to the the 2024 WNBA season, the league’s chief growth officer Colie Edison believed the momentum was picking up in all aspects of business. According to a Fast Company report:
“The WNBA is a growth property. We are growing at a clip that is record-breaking in every important single metric: from viewership to attendance, to merchandise, to league valuation, to team valuation.”
Now, the proof is in the pudding with staggering numbers showing the popularity of the WNBA this season partly with the rookie duo of Caitlin Clark and Reese. Expect that growth to carry on in the days to come.
News
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