Las Vegas Aces Celebrate Third WNBA Championship in Four Years

Las Vegas, Nevada — The Las Vegas Aces secured their third Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) championship in four years, defeating the Phoenix Mercury in a gripping Finals series. This victory further cements the Aces’ status as a potential dynasty in women’s basketball.

The Finals averaged 1.5 million viewers across ESPN and ABC, ranking as the second most-watched WNBA series since 2000. All four games attracted over one million viewers, making it only the third time in league history this feat has been achieved following seasons in 1998 and 2024.

This successful season also saw the WNBA report increased viewership, despite notable injuries, including those to Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark. The league’s regular season recorded an average of 969,000 viewers for nationally televised games, a three percent rise from the previous year.

Disney-owned networks ESPN and ABC provided a strong boost, as they aired eight of the season’s ten most-watched games. A standout match featured the Chicago Sky vs. Indiana Fever, which drew an impressive 2.7 million viewers on May 17.

In the postseason, ESPN achieved its highest ever WNBA viewing figures, averaging 1.2 million viewers across 24 playoff games. Notably, the opening game of the Finals attracted 1.9 million viewers, the highest for a Finals opener in nearly three decades.

Attendance is also booming within the league. With two and a half weeks left in the season, the WNBA broke its single-season attendance record, drawing 2.5 million fans across 226 games, surpassing the previous record from 2002.

The Golden State Valkyries, the league’s newest franchise, attracted exceptional crowds, selling out 22 home games at Chase Center in San Francisco. They averaged 18,064 fans per game, setting a new league record.

Financially, the WNBA anticipates record sponsorship revenue, with the previous season bringing in $76 million. The health of franchises remains strong, with significant sponsorships across sectors like finance and healthcare.

Despite this success, challenges loom. Ongoing collective bargaining agreement negotiations may impact the league’s momentum, as player demands for fair compensation grow.

With their new media rights deals and continued growth, the WNBA looks forward to building on this momentum into the 2026 season.