You’d think having Paige Bueckers going No. 1 overall would be enough to smash all kinds of viewership records, right? Well, not quite. While the 2025 WNBA Draft brought in some serious numbers, Caitlin Clark’s impact still looms large over the league.
That said, it was far from a flop as Bueckers and this year’s star-studded draft class pulled in the second-highest audience in WNBA Draft history, proving the momentum in women’s basketball is still going strong.
Paige Bueckers Shines, But Caitlin Clark’s Legacy Still Towers
According to ESPN, the 2025 WNBA Draft averaged 1.25 million viewers, with a peak of 1.46 million—making it the second-most watched draft ever. That’s a massive 119% increase from 2023, showing just how much the league has grown in a short time. But it still doesn’t touch the historic numbers that the WNBA superstar delivered in 2024.
The 2025 WNBA Draft averaged 1.25M viewers on ESPN, 50% of last year’s record rating as Caitlin Clark was selected first overall.
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness)
Last year, Clark’s arrival to the Indiana Fever drew an average of 2.45 million viewers during the draft, peaking at 3.09 million. It blew past the previous viewership record by 307% and put the WNBA on a whole new level. Even now, Clark remains the gold standard for ratings.
Still, Bueckers isn’t exactly in the shadows. Like her UConn predecessor Diana Taurasi, who was drafted in 2004 during the third-most watched draft in league history, Paige enters the pros with a national title and a massive fanbase. And her No. 1 pick status definitely grabbed attention.
The 2025 Class Delivered, and So Did the Numbers
This year’s draft wasn’t all about Bueckers. The talent pool was deep, diverse, and truly global. Dominique Malonga went No. 2 to the Seattle Storm, and Justė Jocytė made history as the first-ever pick for the Golden State Valkyries at No. 5. Meanwhile, the Washington Mystics loaded up with both Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen, rounding out a stacked top five.
Adding more fuel to the growing popularity of women’s basketball, the NCAA title game between UConn and South Carolina featuring Bueckers earlier this month averaged a whopping 8.5 million viewers, peaking at 9.9 million. That number alone shows how high the interest level already is, and how much potential the WNBA has moving forward.
However, the strong viewership is just one part of a growing trend. The WNBA has been breaking attendance and TV records since Clark entered the league. In 2024, Fever games were moved to larger arenas, and that same formula could play out in Dallas now that Bueckers is in town.
With the regular season tipping off on Friday, May 16, all eyes are on this next wave of stars. The draft may not have broken Clark’s records, but it sure feels like the start of something big.
