WNBA records attendance and viewership growth in 2026 season

The WNBA concluded its 2026 regular season with a record attendance of 3.79 million fans across 330 games, a 20.5% increase from the previous year. This growth comes amid a year of significant changes, including a new collective bargaining agreement that improved player salaries and conditions. The average attendance reached 11,474 fans per game, bolstered by the addition of two expansion teams. Despite some attendance declines in specific markets, overall demand remains high, evidenced by rising ticket prices. Viewership also increased across major partners, with ESPN averaging 1.4 million viewers, reflecting a 17% jump from last season. The WNBA's Finals will be broadcast across multiple networks, which has sparked some viewer confusion.

• 4:12 PMYahoo Sports — WNBA Continues Attendance, Viewership Growth in 2026 Season