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ESPN Makes Major WNBA Draft Announcement
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ESPN Makes Major WNBA Draft Announcement

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Rowan Fisher-Shotton  |  Last updated Apr 15, 2025 7:11 PM ET

Whether it was Paige Bueckers getting drafted first overall, the myriad of red carpet ensembles or the exciting number of international players taken, the 2025 WNBA Draft was a true spectacle.

The SEC dominated the landscape with a whopping 10 players taken, followed by the Big Ten with seven and the ACC with six.

However, it wasn't just the players or conferences who set records; ESPN delivered a draft day experience that set a new standard for the industry.

Alex Feuz from ESPN shared the official Nielsen report from the big night, and the numbers were honestly staggering.

The 2025 WNBA Draft, presented by State Farm, broke records as it captivated the nation with an average of 1.25 million viewers, peaking at 1.46 million viewers.

This presented a staggering 119% increase from the 2023 WNBA Draft.

The event ruled the airwaves among males aged 18-34, 18-49 and even across persons aged 18-34 on both broadcast and cable.

On cable alone, it also dominated among males aged 25-34, as well as persons aged 18-49 and 25-54.

The pre-draft program, WNBA Countdown, set the tone with an impressive 647,000 average viewers.

Such an expansive audience reveals that women's basketball is at an all-time high, and people are genuinely captivated by it.

With young superstars like Caitlin Clark, Sabrina Ionescu, and Paige Bueckets spread across the league, it's easy to see why. 

For fans of the game and women's basketball, the numbers from the 2025 WNBA Draft night sent a clear signal that the future is incredibly bright.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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