The 2025 WNBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis has come to a close. With average viewership in the millions, the event has experienced exponential growth over the past five years.
On Tuesday, the WNBA announced the 2025 All-Star Weekend by the numbers, which aired on ABC. Taking place in Indianapolis, it was unfortunate news Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark opted to remain sidelined from 3-Point and All-Star activities due to an ongoing groin issue. Even so, Clark was very much present at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for both festivities held on Friday and Saturday night. In fact, she was front and center, clipboard in hand, as Sandy Brondello’s associate coach on the sideline.
Featuring ‘Team Phee’ vs ‘Team Clark’, the All-Star Game drew in a sellout crowd of 16,988. According to ESPN, the game averaged 2.2 million viewers, making it the most-watched program of the night across all of television. While narratives continue to fly, two things can be true about the growth of the WNBA and why the numbers matter.
Don’t Be Misled by the 35 Percent Drop
First, ratings dipped just over 35 percent from the 2024 All-Star Game held in Phoenix, which delivered 3.4 million viewers. It’s clear Clark is one of the league’s most popular players, and she happened to miss her second career All-Star Game in front of the Fever faithful. In fact, it’s the first time Indianapolis has ever hosted All-Star Weekend since the franchise was founded for the 2000 season. The clear needle-mover in women’s basketball, her absence was very much felt in the viewership metrics.
Second, let’s take a moment to recognize and appreciate the growth of women’s basketball. We are talking about the second-most watched WNBA All-Star Game in history—one that sent a clear message to the league as players donned “Play Us What You Owe Us” warm-up tees. During a critical period of time with a transformative new CBA still in negotiation, the players, above all, put on one of the most entertaining outings we’ve ever witnessed.
Key Takeaway: The 2025 WNBA All-Star Weekend Was Historic
Napheesa Collier and Caitlin Clark were named team captains after collecting a combined, historic 2,469,546 fan votes. Yes, we are talking about just north of two million votes between the two. Seattle Storm guard Skylar Diggins recorded the first triple-double in WNBA All-Star history with 11 points, 11 rebounds, and 15 assists. Shattering Arike Ogunbowale’s previous scoring record, Lynx star Napheesa Collier was crowned All-Star MVP after delivering a historic 36 points and nine rebounds. It was a weekend forever etched in the history books.
NAPHEESA COLLIIIIER 🔥🔥
36 PTS. 9 REB. NEW SCORING RECORD.
And your #2025WNBAAllStar MVP 👑 pic.twitter.com/QpmalYeTfQ
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 20, 2025
Although it doesn’t count toward the official ratings, Stud Budz, featuring Natisha Heideman and Courtney Williams, delivered fans a 72-hour inside glimpse of the entire weekend through Twitch. With viewership topping 20,000 on the platform, the iconic duo received a warm welcome from the city of Indianapolis. The consistent yet considerable audience indicates the increasing popularity and interest in women’s basketball.
Sure, some might say the ratings are down, but let’s look at the metrics and demographics. According to Front Office Sports, the WNBA continues to lure an increasing amount of male viewers. Over the weekend, several men were proudly wearing jerseys, and FOS reports that “males account for over half of a growing WNBA viewership, being three percentage points more likely than women to watch, with Gen Z having the strongest interest.”
Let’s pump the brakes on the panic button when it comes to the 35 percent drop in ratings.
The Numbers Keep Climbing Steadily
As someone who’s been around since the inaugural season in 1997, the WNBA didn’t hold its first All-Star Game until 1997, which drew 791,000 viewers. According to SportsMediaWatch, no All-Star Game eclipsed 2 million viewers until 2024 and 2025. In fact, the 2022 All-Star garnered 734,000 viewers, while 2023 captured 850,000.
We know one thing. While WNBA All-Star viewership has greatly fluctuated over the years, the league has steadily been on the rise since 2022. There’s no question the Caitlin Clark Effect is very real— the 2025 All-Star numbers still show exceptional growth. The league has accumulated a total of 5.6 million total viewers combined from 2024 and 2024, which is nearly a 245 percent increase from the cumulative All-Star viewership numbers from 2022 and 2023.
More importantly, the 2025 WNBA All-Star game reflects significant growth, as the viewership has increased 158 percent since 2022, and 333 percent since 2019. Additionally, according to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, the league has seen massive gains across several areas. Halfway through the 2025 season, national viewership has increased by 23 percent. Attendance is at its highest in decades (up 26 %), and merchandise sales have climbed 40 percent.
Yet, the fixation remains on the 35 percent decrease.
Sabrina Ionescu Makes History Again in the 3-Point Contest
Sabrina Ionescu joins Allie Quigley as the only player in WNBA history to win multiple 3-Point Contest titles!👑
A Liberty sweep, Natasha Cloud wins the Skills Challenge 😤
— Ballislife Womens Basketball (@ballislifewbb_) July 19, 2025
Overall, the numbers reveal the bigger picture. The WNBA is experiencing unprecedented growth, and interest in women’s basketball continues to rise.
Friday’s 3-Point Contest and Skills Challenge, for example, delivered an average of 1.3 million viewers, according to the network. Even without Clark in the competition, viewership spiked 89 percent from 2024, making it the most-watched WNBA Skills and 3-Point Contest ever.
The 3-Point Showdown headlined Sabrina Ionescu, who made WNBA history as the first player since Allie Quigley to capture multiple WNBA 3-Point titles. Featuring elite shooters like Ionescu, Kelsey Plum, Allisha Gray, Sonia Citron, and Lexie Hull, it was an exhilarating competition that almost nearly matched Ionescu’s record-setting performance in 2023. With an extra $55,000 and trophy in hand, New York Liberty guard Natasha Cloud was named winner of the Skills Challenge.
With the league experiencing historic turnouts, the players proceed to deliver record-breaking performances. Compared to last year, things may seem bleak. However, that’s the furthest from the truth. As the league’s trajectory continues upward, the WNBA is expected to capitalize on NCAA popularity and expand to 18 teams by 2030.
The WNBA’s rise is just getting started.
Follow Sara Jane Gamelli on X @SaraJGamelli.
