WNBA Breaks Attendance Record Mid-Season
NEW YORK – With two and a half weeks left in the WNBA regular season, the league has already surpassed its all-time single-season attendance record.
League officials announced on Thursday that the 13 WNBA teams have attracted a total of 2,501,609 fans in 226 games this season, surpassing the previous record set in 2002, when the league had 16 teams. In 2002, the WNBA needed 256 games to reach that milestone.
The growing popularity of women’s college basketball, initially fueled by the rivalry between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, carried over to the WNBA last season, when Clark and Reese debuted as rookies. Packed stadiums became commonplace for Clark and the Indiana Fever.
Despite Clark and Reese’s injuries this season, ticket sales haven’t decreased, thanks to the arrival of rookie Paige Bueckers in Dallas, the excitement generated by the expansion of the Golden State Valkyries, and increased television coverage.
After expanding the schedule from 40 to 44 games this season, the WNBA is on track to shatter the previous attendance record.
