While all the hype surrounds the looming NFL Draft, the WNBA posted very successful viewership numbers on ESPN last Friday night. According to the network, the WNBA’s virtual draft event drew its largest audience since 2004.
The 387,000 viewers represented a 123% jump year-over-year, also making it the highest-rated WNBA Draft on ESPN, which aired the event for the first time since 2011.
Having the unanimous National Player of the Year Sabrina Ionescu of Oregon selected by the New York Liberty with the first overall pick likely played a role in the viewership spike. The added interest for the WNBA Draft also depicts a starvation for new sports content from fans who have not seen a college or pro game since March 12 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Aligning with what the NFL Draft is expected to look like, the WNBA Draft was held virtually and remotely to practice social distancing in an effort to slow the spread of the global pandemic.
Beyond the 387,000 viewers on linear television, the WNBA Draft also drew 6.5 million video views on social media, up 165% from last year and 1.3 million minutes watched, a 237% increase from 2019. With the WNBA’s virtual draft success, followed by The Last Dance premiering as the highest rated documentary ever on ESPN, it’s setting the stage for the NFL Draft to attract a giant audience beginning Thursday night.
Brandon Contes is a former reporter for BSM, now working for Awful Announcing. You can find him on Twitter @BrandonContes or reach him by email at Brandon.Contes@gmail.com.
