WNBA has already surpassed its single-season attendance record with two and a half weeks remaining in the regular season.
Over the course of 226 games this season, the league’s 13 clubs have drawn 2,501,609 spectators, breaking the previous record established in 2002 when the league featured 16 teams, league officials said Thursday. Reaching the milestone in 2002 also required the WNBA to play 256 games.
Last season, when Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese were rookies, the WNBA saw a surge in popularity that was first sparked by the rivalry between the two women’s collegiate basketball players. For Clark and the Indiana Fever, sold-out arenas were the norm.
Due to the entrance of rookie guard Paige Bueckers in Dallas, more television coverage, and interest in the Golden State Valkyries’ expansion, ticket sales have not decreased despite Clark and Reese’s injuries this season.
As Clark and the Indiana Fever gained popularity, sold-out arenas became the norm.
The WNBA is also on track to break the previous attendance record after increasing the number of games from 40 last year to 44 this season.
Next season, the league will include 15 teams, including the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo. Detroit and Philadelphia will follow in 2029 and 2030, while Cleveland will follow in 2028.
