Aces, Liberty set Game 1 viewership record for WNBA Finals
The WNBA Finals' super-team showdown is paying ratings dividends.
ESPN announced Tuesday that Sunday's series opener produced the highest ratings ever for a WNBA Finals Game 1 on ESPN networks. The game aired Sunday afternoon on ESPN's parent network ABC.
Per ESPN, the game averaged 729,000 viewers and peaked at 885,000. ESPN and its networks have carried 83 WNBA Finals games since 1998.
The game's margin was as close as two points late in the third quarter before the Aces pulled away for a 99-82 win. The competitive early action and star power from both teams were enough to keep viewers engaged despite the lopsided final score.
The reigning champion Aces entered Game 1 as the series favorites thanks to a roster featuring All-Stars A'ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young and Kelsey Plum. Young starred in Sunday's game while tallying a career playoff-high 26 points.
The Liberty counter with league MVP Breanna Stewart plus offseason additions Jonquel Jones and Courtney Vandersloot to pair with Betnijah Laney and Sabrina Ionescu on a roster that was retooled last offseason to compete for a championship.
The Aces fired the first salvo Sunday to take a 1-0 series lead in their quest for back-to-back titles. The Liberty will look to tie the series in Game 2 in Las Vegas on Wednesday night.
