Broadcast Parameters
Tip-Off Baseline Rating
1.80M
Clutch / 4th Qtr Surge Momentum
+122%
Streaming & Out-of-Home Lift
+18.5%
YoY Regular Season Growth Baseline
+178%
Audited Tweet Record: Sunday's Dream-Fever matchup delivered 2.6M average viewers and peaked at 4.0M viewers, making it the most-watched WNBA game in ESPN history. Overall regular season viewership is up +178% YoY.
Average Viewers
2.60M
▲ +178% vs 2023 Reg Season
Peak Broadcast Audience
4.00M
Q4 0:42 Final Minutes
Household TV Rating (HH)
1.48
ESPN Cable Distribution
All-Time ESPN Rank
#1 All-Time
Surpassed 2004 Inaugural Opener
Quarter-by-Quarter Retention & Audience Dynamics
Nielsen Live+SD + Digital Equivalent
| Game Phase | Avg Viewers | Quarter Peak | Inflow / Drop | Audience Share |
|---|
Historic WNBA Telecast Benchmarks
ESPN & ABC Network
Click any historical milestone to overlay its broadcast curve against the Sunday Dream-Fever benchmark:
Key Takeaways
•
Record Breaker: The 2.6M average eclipsed the previous 23-year-old regular season ESPN standard.
•
Late-Game Hook: Intense 4th quarter competition drove viewership to a staggering 4.0M peak in the closing minutes.
•
Broad Growth: Viewership up +178% YoY across all partner networks demonstrates systemic league audience expansion.