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WNBA regular-season attendance was up 48 percent over the 2023 season, the league announced Friday.
The WNBA averaged 9,807 fans per game in 2024, a hefty increase from last season's 6,615 per game.
The league said 2,353,735 fans attended WNBA games, the most in 22 years.
WNBA teams combined for 154 sellouts this season after having just 45 in 2023.
Three games drew more than 20,000 fans, including a single-season record 20,711 when the Caitlin Clark-led Indiana Fever visited the Washington Mystics on Sept. 19. The other two also involved the Fever -- 20,366 against the Las Vegas Aces on July 2 and 20,333 versus the Mystics on June 7.
Clark's impact was a big reason for the increased interest in the league. The Fever set a single-season home attendance record of 340,715 fans.
Clark, a rookie, set WNBA records for assists in a season (337) and a single game (19).
Las Vegas star A'ja Wilson set single-season records for scoring average (26.9 points per game), total points (1,021) and total rebounds (451). She won her third MVP award in unanimous fashion.
Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese set a single-season record by averaging 13.1 rebounds per game.
Also, the league said a record 22 regular-season telecasts averaged at least 1 million viewers.
More must-reads:
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Sophie Cunningham discusses Bria Hartley after suffering season-ending injury
The Indiana Fever announced devastating news on Tuesday, revealing that two-way guard Sophie Cunningham has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a torn MCL. The injury occurred during the Fever’s matchup against the Connecticut Sun over the weekend. Cunningham went down while rotating over on help defense, as Sun guard Bria Hartley drove baseline and ultimately fell into Cunningham’s knee while trying to pass out of a double-team. Cunningham immediately hit the floor in visible pain. While driving and kicking is a routine basketball play, some fans felt Hartley’s move came off as dirty and could have been avoided. Cunningham, however, addressed the situation on her podcast "Show Me Something," which dropped shortly after the season-ending injury news. Sophie Cunningham opens up about injury Sophie Cunningham revealed that she’s actually friends with Bria Hartley and doesn’t believe Hartley would ever try to hurt her intentionally. In fact, she admitted she even told her mom to delete a tweet that was directed at Hartley in the heat of the moment on Sunday. "I know Bria, and I'm actually really good friends with Bria," Cunningham said. "I think it was just a basketball play. I was in the wrong spot at the wrong time, she fell — there’s no way she would intentionally try to hurt me. I have nothing but love for Bria. I even told my mom, because she tweeted something… Bria and I are super cool. She would never try to hurt me. There are some girls that might, but she would never do that." Bria Hartley has faced backlash, but that narrative can now be put to rest after Cunningham publicly addressed the play and shared her personal thoughts. Unfortunately for the Fever, Cunningham becomes the third player to suffer a season-ending injury this year, joining Sydney Colson and Aari McDonald, who were both injured in the same game just over a week ago. Meanwhile, Caitlin Clark remains sidelined, though head coach Stephanie White has expressed hope that she will return before the end of the season — a boost the Fever need now more than ever.
Chicago Bears looking at bringing back familiar face at running back
The Chicago Bears don’t appear satisfied with their running back room with one week left to decide the 53-man roster. The Bears have until Aug. 26 to make their final cuts before preparing for the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1. The Bears entered training camp with questions at running back. Veteran D’Andre Swift had a down year in 2024. Roschon Johnson isn’t a long-term solution, and seventh-round pick Kyle Monangai will have a steep learning curve when the regular season begins. The Chicago Bears worked out a former running back Per Aaron Wilson of KPRC, the Bears worked out running backs Royce Freeman, undrafted rookie Kylin James and former Carolina Panthers practice-squad player Dillon Johnson. Royce Freeman played with the Bears in 2024 Of the three, Freeman is the only running back with stats at the NFL level. Freeman, a third-round pick by the Denver Broncos in 2018, has appeared in 79 games and started nine games. He’s rushed 471 times for 1,472 yards and 10 touchdowns. The Bears signed Freeman to the practice squad in December. He was then signed to the Los Angeles Rams practice squad in January. He last played a regular-season game in 2023, when he added 319 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games for the Rams. The Bears are signaling their need for a running back this summer. There are other options available in the trade market, as the Washington Commanders are shopping Brian Robinson Jr. during the preseason. More running backs will be available after other teams trim their rosters to 53 players, but they might not be the type of athletes to make a significant boost for the offense early in the regular season.
Giants have firm stance on possible Jameis Winston trade
The New York Giants have one of the deepest quarterback rooms in the NFL, and there has been speculation that Jameis Winston could be the odd man out when the regular season begins. It does not sound like Winston is going anywhere, however. Russell Wilson is expected to be the Giants' starting quarterback in Week 1. The big question is whether Jaxson Dart or Winston will enter the year as Wilson's primary backup. Dart has played well through two preseason games, and Brian Daboll and his coaching staff have raved about the former Ole Miss star. Some have wondered if the Giants could entertain trade offers for Winston should they decide they view Dart as their No. 2 quarterback. Assistant general manager Brandon Brown was asked about that on Tuesday, and he all but ruled it out. "I appreciate people that are interested, but Jameis is a New York Giant. The way that he's gone about his business from day one, he's made it very intentional of the fact that he wants to be here and he wants to be here for the long haul," Brown said. "Teammates love him. His preparation process, whether it's the off-field things that he does in terms of community relations, Bible studies, things in the locker room, galvanizing the group together — not just the quarterback room, but the offense as a whole. "He's been comic relief, but he's also been a really good example of how to be a pro and handle your business in terms of prehab, rehab and postgame care. So, I'm happy he's here, and he's gonna continue to do those things. He hasn't wavered, and he hasn't been shaken by any distractions at all." Winston signed a two-year, $8M contract with the Giants in free agency this offseason. The deal could climb as high as $16M with incentives, but he would need to play quite a bit to hit those. The Giants value Winston's extensive experience, just as they value Dart's upside. There is a reason they signed both Wilson and Winston and traded up to draft Dart. They believe in all three players, and they likely will not be inclined to trade Winston unless they receive an excellent offer.
Packers' blockbuster trade pitch adds Micah Parsons for huge price
Speculation linking Dallas Cowboys All-Pro edge-rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers continues to gain momentum as the star’s holdout amid stalled contract negotiations seems as far apart as ever. Parsons, two weeks ago, publicly requested a trade and continues to hold-in during Cowboys training camp, while there is a belief that Green Bay is attempting to pull off a blockbuster trade. Potential Packers-Micah Parsons Blockbuster Trade Package Parsons, 26, has posted 52.5 sacks through his first four seasons and is one of the most dominant players at his position. He is the kind of difference-maker who could cement Green Bay as a legitimate Super Bowl contender for years to come. But prying Parsons away from the Cowboys wouldn’t come cheap. "You’d want to hope to trade no more than three good young players for one elite player," an NFL executive and former general manager said to me recently of what a Parsons trade package might look like. Given that strategy, it isn’t difficult to envision Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst offering a package of players and picks that looks something like: Packers Trade: 2026 first-round NFL Draft choice, 2027 first-round draft choice, WR Romeo Doubs, EDGE Lukas Van Ness Cowboys Trade: Micah Parsons Trading two first-round picks is likely the starting point for Jerry Jones and the Cowboys in any Parsons negotiations. For the Packers, trading Van Ness would be offering a change of scenery for a former first-round draft choice who has yet to live up to expectations, and upgrading the position with a Defensive Player of the Year-caliber player. Meanwhile, shipping Doubs to Dallas clears a logjam at wide receiver, while helping the Cowboys round out a balanced receiving corps that would include CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens and Doubs as perhaps the most prolific collection of talent Dak Prescott has had in his career. Whether Parsons’ trade request is anything more than posturing remains to be seen, but if the Cowboys open up trade talks, this package could be the kind of trade that nets Green Bay a difference-maker.
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