The ESPN broadcast of the WNBA Draft was the second most-viewed iteration of the event in its history, averaging 1.25 million viewers on the night, according to data from Nielsen Media Research. Several star players were selected amid the proceedings, including a top three of guard Paige Bueckers, center Dominique Malonga and guard Sonia Citron.
Although the event was down 49% from the previous year featuring Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, it finished more than 600,000 average viewers above the 2004 edition of the Draft, which was indicative of the previous record until last year. Diana Taurasi was selected with the No. 1 overall pick in that year by the Phoenix Mercury, proceeding to become the all-time leading scorer in WNBA history and retiring this past February.
Compared to the 2023 version of the event, the WNBA Draft was up 119% on Monday night and finished as the most-viewed program across broadcast and cable television among Men 18-34, Men 18-49 and Persons 18-34. Furthermore, the WNBA Draft was the most-viewed cable program within the Men 25-54, Persons 18-49 and Persons 25-54 demographics. Coverage of the event featured members of the WNBA on ESPN such as Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo and Holly Rowe. Andraya Carter took part in live event coverage and WNBA Countdown preceding the show with Elle Duncan and Chiney Ogwumike, which averaged 647,000 viewers on the night.
The WNBA Draft on ESPN peaked with 1.46 million viewers, officially becoming the 33rd WNBA telecast over the last year to average at least 1 million viewers, according to Jon Lewis of Sports Media Watch. In addition, Lewis added that it was the eighth such instance in events without Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark. Before last season, which ended with an average of 1.2 million viewers on ESPN platforms, no WNBA game had averaged more than 1 million viewers since 2008.
As the start of the WNBA season draws closer, ABC will televise a doubleheader on Saturday, May 17 featuring Breanna Stewart and the defending league champion New York Liberty hosting A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces. The second half of the night will include Reese and the Chicago Sky facing Clark and the Indiana Fever. Clark and Bueckers, the two No. 1 overall picks from the past two drafts, will face one another on Sunday, July 13 at 1 p.m. EST on ABC and Tuesday, Aug. 12 at 8 p.m. EST on ESPN.
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