ESPN’s 2026 WNBA coverage averages a record 1.4 million viewers

ESPN says its 2026 WNBA coverage averaged 1.4 million viewers, up 17% year over year, making it the network’s most-watched regular season for a third straight year. Indiana Fever–Atlanta Dream on Aug. 16 averaged 2.6 million viewers, ESPN’s most-watched WNBA game ever.

The regular season ended earlier that week with the Minnesota Lynx first in the standings. Indiana was headed into a first-round playoff series against the Las Vegas Aces.