After shattering records in 2024, WNBA viewership has continued to do numbers throughout the 2025 season — even as some of the league's biggest stars watch from the sidelines.
According to a Wednesday Front Office Sports report, 2025 WNBA matchups are averaging 794,000 viewers per game across national networks so far — a 21% increase over 2024's full-season viewership average.
Following one of the highest-profile rookie seasons in league history, the Caitlin Clark-fueled Indiana Fever quickly became the cornerstone of the league's broadcast boom, routinely accounting for the bulk of regular viewership.
However, the WNBA's most significant gains came elsewhere, with non-Fever matchups currently drawing 549,000 viewers per game, marking a 37% year-over-year increase.
Despite Clark sitting out 13 of the Fever's 26 regular-season games with a lingering groin injury, Indiana's coverage remains strong at 1.26 million viewers per game for a 7% increase over 2024.
Of the league's slate of national broadcasters, CBS reported a 5.5% increase and ESPN saw a 3% rise. Meanwhile, NBA TV's relatively low 339,000 viewers-per-game offset its steep 58% growth.
Next season, the WNBA will enter an 11-year, $2.2 billion joint media rights deal with NBC Sports while ESPN stays on as partner, as both networks bet on the league regardless of a single superstar's uncertain availability.