From CNBC: 2024-10-22 18:01:11

The New York Liberty emerged victorious in the 2024 WNBA Championship against the Minnesota Lynx, winning Game 5 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The game became the most-viewed WNBA finals game in 25 years with 3.3 million viewers, surpassing Sunday night NFL and MLB games. The entire finals series saw doubled viewership compared to last year.

The competitive and thrilling finals series, with four out of five games decided by 5 or fewer points and two games going into overtime, contributed to the increased popularity and viewership of the WNBA. The league saw a boost in engagement, attendance, and viewership throughout the season, with a new media rights deal worth $2.2 billion over 11 seasons.

Looking ahead, the WNBA will introduce new teams like the Golden State Valkyries in the 2025 season and expand to 44 regular season games and a seven-game finals series in the near future. The Women’s National Basketball Players Association has opted out of the collective bargaining agreement for the upcoming seasons, with the current CBA still in place for 2025.



Read more at CNBC: WNBA Finals Game 5 game draws highest viewership in 25 years