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2026 WNBA Draft hits near-record viewership numbers
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- 2026 WNBA Draft hits near-record viewership numbers
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2026 WNBA Draft hits near-record viewership numbers appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
Following the successful WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards in New York on Monday, the league will welcome another batch of fresh faces when the new season unfurls in May.
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Dallas Wings guard Azzi Fudd, Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles, Seattle Storm teammates Awa Fam Thiam and Flau'jae Johnson, Washington Mystics center Lauren Betts, and Chicago Sky guard Gabriela Jaquez are just some of the newcomers to watch out for after the WNBA Draft .
Many tuned in to watch where the top prospects would land, especially since it was among the deepest pools in recent memory.
In fact, ESPN noted that it was the second-most-watched WNBA Draft in history. It garnered 1.5 million viewers, up by 20% year on year. The viewership peaked at 1.8 million viewers.
It surpassed last year's WNBA Draft, which had 1.25 million viewers. The Wings selected guard Paige Bueckers as the No. 1 selection.
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The most-watched edition ever was in 2024, wherein Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark was the top overall pick . It garnered 2.45 million viewers.
This year's WNBA Draft was another testament to the league's growing popularity. More are getting interested in the WNBA, which has long clamored for nationwide attention and has enjoyed unprecedented success in recent years.
The new season, the 30th of the WNBA, should continue to attract wider viewership, along with improved gate attendance and better merchandise sales.
With the arrival of another talented rookie class, two new squads in the Portland Fire and the Toronto Tempo , the player movements in the offseason, and the successful negotiation for a new collective bargaining agreement, the upcoming season could be the best one yet.
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