WNBA Attendance Trends by Year: From Inaugural Crowds to Record-Breaking Seasons
The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) has traveled a long and fascinating road since its founding in 1997. Attendance has always been a barometer of league health and public interest. From its high-energy launch and initial boom, through lean years of decline, to the surge of record-breaking numbers in 2024 and 2025, the league’s crowd sizes tell the story of women’s basketball in America. This article traces WNBA attendance year by year, analyzes the causes of change, and explains why the current growth spurt could mark the start of a golden era.
The Early Boom Years (1997–2002)
The WNBA burst onto the scene in 1997 with immediate attention and fanfare. That inaugural year, the league averaged nearly 9,700 fans per game. By 1998, attendance climbed even higher, averaging more than 10,800 per contest.
Between 1999 and 2002, the WNBA consistently drew large crowds. In 2002, the league hit an early peak: 2.39 million total fans attended games, averaging 9,344 per game. That season set the single-season attendance record that stood for more than 20 years. With recognizable stars like Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes, and Tina Thompson, as well as media coverage during a relatively uncrowded summer sports calendar, the league’s foundation looked strong.
A Period of Decline (2003–2015)
The optimism of the early 2000s didn’t last. Starting in 2003, attendance began to slip. That year saw averages drop below 9,000 per game. By 2006, the figure had fallen to just 7,479. A combination of factors played a role:
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Teams relocating to smaller arenas with limited capacity.
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Declines in national television coverage.
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Increased competition for sports fans’ attention from other leagues and events.
In 2015, the WNBA reached its attendance low point. That season, the league averaged only 7,318 fans per game. Some franchises struggled with visibility, sponsorships were modest, and the overall perception was that the league had plateaued.
Stabilization and the Pandemic Shock (2016–2022)
The late 2010s provided hints of recovery. Between 2016 and 2019, averages hovered in the 6,500–7,700 range. While not spectacular, it suggested the league had found a core base.
Then came 2020. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the WNBA operated a shortened “bubble” season in Bradenton, Florida. Fans were not allowed in arenas, so no attendance was reported that year. The following season in 2021 saw heavily restricted crowds. Attendance averaged just 2,620 per game, reflecting capacity limits and health protocols. By 2022, the league rebounded to 5,646 per game across 1.2 million total attendees, but these numbers were still far from historic highs.
The Turning Point: 2023–2024
In 2023, momentum started to shift. Attendance rose to 6,615 per game, totaling nearly 1.6 million fans. While this was modest by historical standards, it set the stage for what came next.
The 2024 season was transformative. According to the official WNBA season recap, total attendance surged to 2,353,735 — the highest in 22 years. Average attendance skyrocketed to 9,807 per game, a 48% increase from 2023. Just as impressive, the league recorded 154 sellouts compared to only 45 the prior year. Major arenas filled to capacity when rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese took the floor, creating an energy the league hadn’t felt since its early days.
This surge was more than a short-term boost. It marked the WNBA’s re-emergence into mainstream sports conversations. Attendance momentum created headlines in outlets like ESPN, further feeding interest and pushing the numbers higher.
The Record-Breaking 2025 Season
The 2025 season, still ongoing at the time of writing, has already broken the all-time attendance record. By August 21, more than 2.5 million fans had attended 226 games, surpassing the total set in 2002. Average attendance continues to trend upward, with marquee matchups drawing 15,000–20,000 fans in some arenas.
Expansion has helped. The addition of the Golden State Valkyries has produced consistently high attendance in the Bay Area. Their debut year is among the most successful launches for a new franchise in league history. Combined with returning superstars and fresh rookie buzz, this expansion has given fans even more reasons to fill arenas.
What’s Driving the Surge?
Several key factors explain why attendance is reaching new heights:
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Star Power – Players like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers have elevated interest to levels comparable with men’s college basketball fandom.
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Media Coverage – More games are nationally televised, and streaming accessibility has exploded.
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Cultural Momentum – The broader women’s sports movement has grown significantly, with fans eager to support professional female athletes.
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Expansion Teams – New franchises have injected novelty and attracted fans in major markets.
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Improved Fan Experience – Better arenas, family-friendly promotions, and sellout environments are creating positive word of mouth.
Challenges Ahead
Despite the good news, challenges remain:
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Some smaller-market teams still struggle with attendance below league averages.
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Maintaining growth requires sustained marketing and investment in player visibility.
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Venue size matters. Teams in larger arenas can set attendance records more easily than those in smaller gyms.
If the WNBA wants to build on this surge, it will need to ensure balanced growth across all franchises, not just rely on star-driven spikes.
Why It Matters
Attendance isn’t just a vanity metric — it reflects financial sustainability. Higher ticket sales mean more revenue for teams, better opportunities for sponsorships, and stronger negotiating positions for national television contracts. For players, it signals higher salary potential and long-term stability. For fans, growing attendance builds energy in arenas, creating an atmosphere that enhances the game-day experience.
Conclusion
The WNBA has traveled from the excitement of its launch, through years of uncertainty, and now into an era of explosive growth. With 2024 and 2025 setting new benchmarks, the league is proving that demand for women’s professional basketball is stronger than ever. If the momentum continues, future seasons could push averages beyond 10,000 per game, ensuring the WNBA’s place as one of America’s fastest-growing professional sports leagues.
