Sports
WNBA - English
WNBA Draft - English
No one can deny that the WNBA is one of the most popular sports leagues today, and the numbers prove it. Not only has the viewership of its regular-season games grown exponentially, but its draft is now one of the most-watched among the major professional leagues in the U.S.
On Monday night, April 14, the WNBA held its 29th annual draft, where players like Paige Bueckers, Kiki Iriafen, Sonia Citron, and Hailey Van Lith received the opportunity to take the next step in their careers, now as professional players.
This year’s viewership was considerably lower than last year’s. 1.25 million viewers tuned in to this year’s draft, compared to 2.4 million who watched the 2024 edition when Caitlin Clark led a class that included Angel Reese and Cameron Brink. However, the perspective changes when looking at the numbers from other leagues.
WNBA Draft ratings
2016: 254,000
2017: 273,000
2018: 303,000
2019: 248,000
2020: 378,000
2021: 331,000
2022: 403,000
2023: 572,000
2024: 2,450,000 pic.twitter.com/qqkQbE7TDa? Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod (@big_business_) April 16, 2024
The WNBA surpassed the NHL and MLB
The numbers don’t lie. The so-called Clark Effect boosted the WNBA’s popularity to unprecedented levels, from an average of 387,000 viewers per game in 2020 to an average of 1.19 million who tuned in to the league’s games in 2024.
The draft could not be an exception. While the 2025 rating was nearly half that of 2025, it doubled the viewership of the 2024 NHL Draft, which drew 502,000 viewers and surpassed by almost 50% the 863,000 viewers who tuned in for the 2024 MLB Draft. Not bad for the youngest sports league in the U.S.
Every pick from the 2025 WNBA draft pic.twitter.com/e9FJgYvnKr
? ESPN (@espn) April 15, 2025
The future of the WNBA
With Clark, Reese, and Brink entering their second year in the league, waiting to welcome Bueckers, Iriafen, and Van Lith, all indications are that regular-season ratings will continue their upward trend. New rivalries will be unmissable, and fans can expect epic clashes.
The draft can also expect to maintain or exceed this year’s viewership levels. Fans won’t want to miss the start of the careers of players like JuJu Watkins, Hannah Hidalgo, and Lauren Betts, who headline the future crop of talent.
Paige Bueckers headlined one of the hottest classes in WNBA Draft history.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Panthers optimistic injured captain Aleksander Barkov could return for Game 3
SUNRISE, Fla. — Florida Panthers coach Paul Maurice indicated on Saturday morning that his injured captain, Aleksander Barkov, could play in Game 3 against Tampa Bay later in the day.“He has to take warmups,” Maurice said a couple of hours before the scheduled 1 p.m. ET puck drop. “He has to get through it. We think he’s good.”AdvertisementOn Friday, Maurice said Barkov hadn’t been ruled out for Game 3 but also hadn’t yet been cleared.The defending champion Panthers lead the series, 2-0.Barkov, one of the NHL’s best two-way players, was injured in the third period of Game 2 when he was walloped by a blind side hit from Tampa Bay’s Brandon Hagel. The NHL suspended Hagel one game for the hit, largely because the puck was nowhere near Barkov at the time of contact.After absorbing the hit, Barkov remained on […]
Muller sinaliza reforço milionário que pode amargar reserva em 2025: “Esquema cruel”
Muller, em podcast no YouTube (Reprodução) Ciente do período de adaptação, Muller considera que Vitor Roque está devendo no Palmeiras. Jogador mais caro da história do futebol brasileiro, o camisa 9 ainda não balançou as redes, algo que contrata ao momento de protagonista de Flaco López. Neste cenário, a falta de encaixe envolvendo o estilo de Abel Ferreira pode seguir dificultando a vida do atacante. “O Vitor Roque está devendo. Pelo investimento que foi feito, ele tem que mostrar mais. Tem (fase de adaptação), mas o esquema do Palmeiras é um pouco cruel para ele. São muitas bolas cruzadas. Não é a especialidade dele.”, disse Muller, no programa Gazeta Esportiva. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “Ele é um jogador de toque de bola e driblar, não é um jogador de área como é o Flaco López […] O Vitor Roque tem procurar seu […]
Pětibojařka Hlaváčková byla na SP v Budapešti čtrnáctá
Závod vyhrála domácí Michelle Gulyásová, která i po vyřazení parkuru a zavedení překážkové dráhy navázala na olympijský triumf z loňských her v Paříži, kde disciplína s koněm byla v programu naposledy. Hlaváčková při své premiéře pod pěti kruhy skončila desátá.Právě takzvaný „obstacle“ se české juniorce v Budapešti povedl nejhůře. Před závěrečnou kombinací běhu a střelby byla v osmnáctičlenném poli finalistek šestnáctá a osmým časem si v konečném pořadí mírně polepšila.
Chelsea’s Romeo Lavia ‘one of the best midfielders’ says Enzo Maresca: ‘He’s unbelievable’
Enzo Maresca praised “unbelievable” Romeo Lavia after the Belgian marked his first Chelsea start since January with an impressive performance in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Everton.Lavia played 67 minutes at the base of Maresca’s midfield at Stamford Bridge with Moises Caicedo inverting from right-back to play alongside him. The pair provided a foundation for an hour of impressive Chelsea control against Everton, punctuated by Nicolas Jackson scoring his first goal of 2025 to break the deadlock in the 27th minute.AdvertisementThe withdrawal of Lavia for club captain Reece James midway through the second half precipitated an anxious finale for Chelsea as Everton pushed for an equaliser, but Maresca’s team held on to earn a victory that boosts their Champions League qualification hopes.“When he’s fit, he’s one of the best midfielders because he can defend very well, he can attack, he breaks […]
What happens if Shedeur Sanders goes undrafted? Explaining the salary difference and UDFA process
The idea of Shedeur Sanders going undrafted seemed preposterous when the 2025 NFL Draft week began. The Colorado star quarterback’s luster as a projected top-five pick may have diminished, but he was still widely mocked to land somewhere by the end of Day 1.When the first round came and went without his name being called, Sanders told the crowd at his Thursday draft party, “Tomorrow is the day.” But Friday also ended without Sanders’ name being called, dragging his slide into yet another day of speculation as Day 3 begins at noon Saturday.AdvertisementBut what happens if Day 3, consisting of rounds four to seven, also ends without Sanders being selected? An idea that never seemed plausible suddenly feels possible, and if so there are questions to be answered.Here’s what would happen if Sanders never gets selected in the NFL Draft. […]
Celtic získal titul už čtyři kola před koncem, vyrovnal rekord Rangers
Svěřenci trenéra Brendana Rodgerse prohráli v lize jen čtyři ze 34 zápasů, získali Ligový pohár a o třetí trofej - Skotský pohár - se utkají 24. května s Aberdeenem. K dnešní hladké výhře přispěli dvěma brankami Němec Kühn a Ir Idah, jeden gól byl vlastní. Nejlepším střelcem nového mistra a celé ligy je Japonec Maeda s šestnácti brankami.
Related
Panthers optimistic injured captain Aleksander Barkov could return for Game 3
SUNRISE, Fla. — Florida Panthers coach Paul Maurice indicated on Saturday morning that his injured captain, Aleksander Barkov, could play in Game 3 against Tampa Bay later in the day.“He has to take warmups,” Maurice said a couple of hours before the scheduled 1 p.m. ET puck drop. “He has to get through it. We think he’s good.”AdvertisementOn Friday, Maurice said Barkov hadn’t been ruled out for Game 3 but also hadn’t yet been cleared.The defending champion Panthers lead the series, 2-0.Barkov, one of the NHL’s best two-way players, was injured in the third period of Game 2 when he was walloped by a blind side hit from Tampa Bay’s Brandon Hagel. The NHL suspended Hagel one game for the hit, largely because the puck was nowhere near Barkov at the time of contact.After absorbing the hit, Barkov remained on […]
Muller sinaliza reforço milionário que pode amargar reserva em 2025: “Esquema cruel”
Muller, em podcast no YouTube (Reprodução) Ciente do período de adaptação, Muller considera que Vitor Roque está devendo no Palmeiras. Jogador mais caro da história do futebol brasileiro, o camisa 9 ainda não balançou as redes, algo que contrata ao momento de protagonista de Flaco López. Neste cenário, a falta de encaixe envolvendo o estilo de Abel Ferreira pode seguir dificultando a vida do atacante. “O Vitor Roque está devendo. Pelo investimento que foi feito, ele tem que mostrar mais. Tem (fase de adaptação), mas o esquema do Palmeiras é um pouco cruel para ele. São muitas bolas cruzadas. Não é a especialidade dele.”, disse Muller, no programa Gazeta Esportiva. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “Ele é um jogador de toque de bola e driblar, não é um jogador de área como é o Flaco López […] O Vitor Roque tem procurar seu […]
Pětibojařka Hlaváčková byla na SP v Budapešti čtrnáctá
Závod vyhrála domácí Michelle Gulyásová, která i po vyřazení parkuru a zavedení překážkové dráhy navázala na olympijský triumf z loňských her v Paříži, kde disciplína s koněm byla v programu naposledy. Hlaváčková při své premiéře pod pěti kruhy skončila desátá.Právě takzvaný „obstacle“ se české juniorce v Budapešti povedl nejhůře. Před závěrečnou kombinací běhu a střelby byla v osmnáctičlenném poli finalistek šestnáctá a osmým časem si v konečném pořadí mírně polepšila.
Chelsea’s Romeo Lavia ‘one of the best midfielders’ says Enzo Maresca: ‘He’s unbelievable’
Enzo Maresca praised “unbelievable” Romeo Lavia after the Belgian marked his first Chelsea start since January with an impressive performance in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Everton.Lavia played 67 minutes at the base of Maresca’s midfield at Stamford Bridge with Moises Caicedo inverting from right-back to play alongside him. The pair provided a foundation for an hour of impressive Chelsea control against Everton, punctuated by Nicolas Jackson scoring his first goal of 2025 to break the deadlock in the 27th minute.AdvertisementThe withdrawal of Lavia for club captain Reece James midway through the second half precipitated an anxious finale for Chelsea as Everton pushed for an equaliser, but Maresca’s team held on to earn a victory that boosts their Champions League qualification hopes.“When he’s fit, he’s one of the best midfielders because he can defend very well, he can attack, he breaks […]
What happens if Shedeur Sanders goes undrafted? Explaining the salary difference and UDFA process
The idea of Shedeur Sanders going undrafted seemed preposterous when the 2025 NFL Draft week began. The Colorado star quarterback’s luster as a projected top-five pick may have diminished, but he was still widely mocked to land somewhere by the end of Day 1.When the first round came and went without his name being called, Sanders told the crowd at his Thursday draft party, “Tomorrow is the day.” But Friday also ended without Sanders’ name being called, dragging his slide into yet another day of speculation as Day 3 begins at noon Saturday.AdvertisementBut what happens if Day 3, consisting of rounds four to seven, also ends without Sanders being selected? An idea that never seemed plausible suddenly feels possible, and if so there are questions to be answered.Here’s what would happen if Sanders never gets selected in the NFL Draft. […]
Celtic získal titul už čtyři kola před koncem, vyrovnal rekord Rangers
Svěřenci trenéra Brendana Rodgerse prohráli v lize jen čtyři ze 34 zápasů, získali Ligový pohár a o třetí trofej - Skotský pohár - se utkají 24. května s Aberdeenem. K dnešní hladké výhře přispěli dvěma brankami Němec Kühn a Ir Idah, jeden gól byl vlastní. Nejlepším střelcem nového mistra a celé ligy je Japonec Maeda s šestnácti brankami.
Be the first to leave a comment