First round of WNBA playoffs brings in most viewers in 15 years

A'ja Wilson and the top-seeded Las Vegas Aces lead the charge into the WNBA semifinals. (Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)

WNBA playoffs viewership is up, with this year’s opening round recording the most viewers for a first round in 15 years.

A total of 10 first-round games were played among eight teams, and those games brought a 50 percent increase in viewership over the 2021 early rounds. An average of 392,000 viewers tuned in across the four first-round series this season.

WNBA Playoffs 📈

The 2022 opening round averaged 392,000 viewers per game. Making it the most-viewed first round in 15 years on ESPN networks.

(via @ESPNPR) pic.twitter.com/yio7n8uJY3
— Just Women’s Sports (@justwsports) August 26, 2022

The numbers come after the league’s regular season games on ESPN posted the highest viewership numbers in 16 years, averaging 372,000 viewers across 25 games on ESPN networks.

In general, women’s sports viewership has been trending upwards this year, with college softball, the NWSL and college basketball among those posting higher numbers.