WNBA Finals Game 1 between Chicago and Phoenix is most viewed since 2017

The numbers are in for Game 1 of the WNBA Finals and, according to ESPN PR, viewership is the highest it’s been since 2017.

With an average of 456,000 viewers, Sunday’s showdown on ABC between the Chicago Sky and the Phoenix Mercury peaked at 547,000 viewers. It’s the most-viewed opening game of the WNBA Finals since 2017.

ESPN's #WNBA postseason viewership is 🆙

🏀 The 2021 Semifinals are the most-viewed non-Finals round since 2014
🏀 Up 70% over 2020
🏀 The 2021 postseason is averaging 317,000 viewers through 14 games pic.twitter.com/fg2NCGoyQ9

— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) October 12, 2021

Additionally, the 2021 Semifinals were the most-viewed non-Finals round since 2014, with 331,000 average viewers. That number marks a 70 percent increase over 2020.

So far, the 2021 WNBA Postseason is averaging 317,000 viewers through 14 games, which is up 40 percent from the 2020 postseason.