The 2025 WNBA Finals between the Las Vegas Aces and Phoenix Mercury averaged 1.5 million viewers across four games, which was the second-most-watched Finals series on ESPN since the network acquired exclusive postseason rights in 2003.
Total viewership is just shy of the 2024 finals average of 1.6 million. The figures demonstrate the competition’s continued growth despite questions about maintaining the momentum from the historic 2024 campaign.
The series ended in a four-game sweep by A’ja Wilson and the Aces over the Mercury. The lopsided outcome prevented the league from taking full advantage of the first best-of-seven playoff series format.
Last year’s decisive Game 5 between the New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx drew 2.15 million viewers, the most-watched WNBA Finals game of the 2000s. The absence of a similar elimination game likely had an impact on the series’ total viewership.
Viewers of the 2025 Finals doubled their average of 728,000 from 2023 as the Aces defeated the Liberty in four games. The entire postseason averaged 1.2 million viewers, a 5% increase from last year, despite Caitlin Clark’s absence from the playoffs.
Nielsen’s methodology change to the Big Data + Panel model earlier this year has increased viewership across all sports. The inclusion of outdoor viewers since 2020 is also contributing to higher totals.
The WNBA now faces a crucial offseason period as the league and players’ union must reach a new collective bargaining agreement by October 31 or agree to extend negotiations to avoid a work stoppage.
Game 1 on ESPN led all finals broadcasts with 1.9 million viewers. Games 2 through 4 drew between 1.2 and 1.4 million viewers on ESPN and ABC.
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