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A high-drama finish between the Phoenix Mercury and Las Vegas Aces in Game 1 of the 2025 WNBA Finals drew historic viewership, the league announced Tuesday.
The contest last Friday, which the Aces won 89-86 in Las Vegas, averaged 1.9 million viewers with a peak of 2.5 million.
Only the WNBA’s inaugural championship in 1997, a single-game decider between the Houston Comets and New York Liberty, experienced a greater average viewership. However, this year’s Game 1 was the most watched of its kind since the Finals shifted to a series format in 1998.
The nearly two million average was an increase of 62% from 2024 when the eventual champion New York Liberty lost 95-93 in overtime to the Minnesota Lynx.
Through Game 1 of the Finals, the WNBA Playoffs have had average viewership of 1.2 million, which is up 16% from last season.
Beyond historic viewership: Mercury-Aces series so far
The Mercury qualified for their first championship series since losing to the Chicago Sky 3-1 in 2021, whereas the Aces are in their third in four seasons, having won the 2022 and 2023 championship.
In Game 1, the first of two for the higher-seeded Aces in Las Vegas, the Mercury had at least a share of the lead through three quarters but late free throw misses by MVP-caliber guard Alyssa Thomas left them with only a prayer of 3-pointer to force overtime. Kahleah Copper, the only retained Phoenix player from last season, matched Diana Taurasi’s record of five made 3s in a single half in the Finals.
The second contest was much less dramatic, as the Aces were in control from the second quarter on for a 91-78 win. Aces coach Becky Hammon improved her Game 2 playoff record in Las Vegas to 9-0 with Jackie Young falling one point (21) short of a WNBA Playoffs record for most points scored in a single quarter.
Copper has led Phoenix in points (21, 23) in both games so far.
Down 2-0, the Mercury hope to cut the deficit in half on Wednesday as the series moves to Phoenix. They are 3-1 at home this postseason, with their only loss coming in overtime to the Liberty in Game 1 of the first round.
Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. from Mortgage Matchup Center and can be seen on ESPN.
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