Chicago Sun-Times (08/01/25) Hirsh, Alissa
The latest Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) television viewership numbers are in, and the league continues to outdraw some men’s leagues in the United States. The average viewership this current season is almost twice that of the National Hockey League's U.S. viewership last year. Even games without Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark are performing better than professional hockey. The growing viewership has raised questions about the WNBA's latest media deal, which kicks in next season. The $200 million annual figure is a huge increase from the last contract and will help players earn a raise. However, the deal pales in comparison to men's leagues. The NHL's television deal is worth three times more, for instance, and the NBA's portion of the same overall media accord is a whopping 34 times larger. One reason is the WNBA's shorter season, with the league playing nearly a third as many games as the NBA and NHL last season, including playoffs.
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