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Some of the biggest names in the WNBA have been sidelined indefinitely with various injuries as teams enter the final stretch of the season, but that hasn’t stopped basketball fans across the nation from showing up.
WNBA officials announced Thursday that the league set a new single-season attendance record, with 13 franchises welcoming more than 2.5 million fans in 226 games this year. And that number is expected to grow as there are three weeks remaining in the regular season and the 2025 WNBA Finals have expanded to a best-of-seven format for the first time in league history.
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The previous record was set more than two decades ago in 2002 by 16 teams across 256 games.
Women’s basketball has continued to skyrocket in popularity, both on the collegiate and professional level. Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese’s rivalry at Iowa and LSU, respectively, captivated the nation and brought a new audience to the WNBA as viewers followed the budding stars to the pros their rookie season. Incoming rookie Paige Bueckers, who set single-game rookie scoring record with 44 points against the Los Angeles Sparks on Wednesday, has carried the momentum as the league rewrites attendance and viewership records.
Both Clark and Reese have dealt with injuries this season. Clark has missed 22 of the Indiana Fever’s 35 games due to various injuries, including 13 consecutive games with a right groin injury. Reese missed seven games with a back injury and recently returned to the lineup in the Sky’s loss to the Seattle Storm on Tuesday. MVP frontrunner Napheesa Collier (right ankle) has missed five straight games for the Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (right knee) has been sidelined 11 games.
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The WNBA expanded from 12 teams to 13 franchises this season, welcoming the Golden State Valkyries. The Valkyries have received unprecedented support in their inaugural season and have sold out all 17 of their home games at Chase Center this season.
The league is set to grow to 18 teams by 2030, with franchises being added in Portland, Oregon (2026), Toronto (2026), Cleveland (2028), Detroit (2029) and Philadelphia (2030).
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: WNBA sets all-time attendance record
