The 2025 WNBA All-Star Game, broadcasted by ESPN, emerged as the most-watched program across all categories on Saturday nights, achieving one of the highest viewership figures in its history. Team Collier’s 151-131 win over Team Clark on ABC attracted an average of 2.2 million viewers, compared to last year’s 3.44 million. Although this year’s numbers fell short of 2024’s, it’s important to note that last year’s game featured a unique matchup between WNBA All-Stars and Team USA ahead of the Paris Olympics.
For the second consecutive year, the All-Star Game drew over a million viewers, with 2024 marking the peak in viewership. This year introduced a new format where fan favorites Kate Linklark and Nafisa Collier, the top two in fan voting, picked teams from a player pool ranked by combined fan, media, and player votes. Clark was out due to a groin injury, alongside other sidelined stars Rhyne Howard (leg) and Satou Sabally (ankle).
The All-Star Weekend also featured Friday’s Skill Challenge and a 3-Point Contest, both setting viewership records. Natasha Cloud led the Skill Challenge with an average of 1.3 million viewers, and her New York Liberty teammate Sabrinaionesque won the 3-point contest for the first time in three years.
Viewership jumped by 89% in 2024, making the event the most-watched primetime program among viewers under 35, according to ESPN.
Fan Take: This surge in viewership is a clear sign that the WNBA is rapidly growing its fanbase and gaining mainstream attention. For WNBA fans, this means more spotlight on the league and greater opportunities to elevate women’s basketball on a national and global stage.
