Max Rego is a breaking news reporter at The Messenger, covering sports. He previously worked at the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and wrote for the Duke Chronicle. He graduated from Duke University with a degree in economics and psychology.

Breaking News Reporter

Max Rego

The 2023 WNBA season was the most-watched regular season in 21 years, the league announced on Wednesday afternoon. The league also recorded its highest total attendance figures in 13 years.

The 2023 WNBA season was the most-watched regular season in 21 years, the league announced on Wednesday afternoon. The league also recorded its highest total attendance figures in 13 years.

WNBA regular season viewership for national TV games on ABC, CBS, ESPN and ESPN2 was up 21% relative to 2022, <a href="https://www.wnba.com/news/2023-season-record-breaking-success-recap" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">per a league release</a>. The 2023 WNBA season featured 28 games on those four channels, up from 27 in 2022 (a 3% increase), according to a league spokesperson.

WNBA regular season viewership for national TV games on ABC, CBS, ESPN and ESPN2 was up 21% relative to 2022, <a href="https://www.wnba.com/news/2023-season-record-breaking-success-recap" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">per a league release</a>. The 2023 WNBA season featured 28 games on those four channels, up from 27 in 2022 (a 3% increase), according to a league spokesperson.

It is good news for the league, as its current broadcast rights deal with ESPN/ABC expires in 2025.

It is good news for the league, as its current broadcast rights deal with ESPN/ABC expires in 2025.

The WNBA already celebrated multiple viewership wins this year. The 2023 WNBA Draft was the most watched since 2004, while the All-Star Game was the most watched since 2007.

The WNBA already celebrated multiple viewership wins this year. The 2023 WNBA Draft was the most watched since 2004, while the All-Star Game was the most watched since 2007.

During the offseason, the WNBA also signed a three-year, $39 million deal with <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/howardmegdal/2023/04/26/the-wnbas-new-deal-with-ion-by-the-numbers/?sh=1126d183ba41" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scripps</a> to air Friday night games on ION, in addition to the league's 2021 agreement with Amazon that gives Prime Video the rights to Thursday night matchups and the Commissioner's Cup championship.

During the offseason, the WNBA also signed a three-year, $39 million deal with <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/howardmegdal/2023/04/26/the-wnbas-new-deal-with-ion-by-the-numbers/?sh=1126d183ba41" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scripps</a> to air Friday night games on ION, in addition to the league's 2021 agreement with Amazon that gives Prime Video the rights to Thursday night matchups and the Commissioner's Cup championship.

The <a href="https://themessenger.com/sports/2023-wnba-playoffs-schedule-tv-guide-format-results-scores">2023 WNBA Playoffs</a> begin Wednesday night.

The <a href="https://themessenger.com/sports/2023-wnba-playoffs-schedule-tv-guide-format-results-scores">2023 WNBA Playoffs</a> begin Wednesday night.

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The league also announced that regular season games on ABC averaged 627,000 viewers, the highest total in over a decade