Luka Doncic’s trade to the Los Angeles Lakers was one of the biggest moves in recent NBA history, sending shockwaves through the sporting world.
Such was the surprise at the deal going through, Dallas Mavericks fans have vocally criticized their team executives, whilst Lakers fans have rejoiced at getting a superstar to join LeBron James.
While his debut in purple and gold attracted strong viewership, the real headline was how it compared to the rising popularity of the WNBA.
Doncic’s first game with the Lakers drew an average of 2.01 million viewers, peaking at 2.55 million. This marked a 42 percent increase over the NBA’s average viewership last season and became ESPN’s most-watched game since November. However, with a late primetime tip-off, nearly half the league’s usual audience was already asleep.
Despite the hype, Doncic’s numbers fell short of a mid-season WNBA matchup from August 2024. A showdown between Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever and Nneka Ogwumike’s Seattle Storm averaged 2.2 million viewers and peaked at 2.9 million-despite airing in the middle of the afternoon.
Though the Lakers’ game lacked high stakes due to their low-ranked opponent, the Utah Jazz, this comparison fuels ongoing discussions about the NBA’s declining ratings.
NBA viewership drops while the WNBA gains momentum
Through the first 18 games of the current season, NBA viewership is down 28% from last year. This comes despite the league’s massive 11-year, 76-billion-dollar media rights deal, which averages out to 12 dollars per viewer.
In contrast, the NFL’s 110-billion-dollar deal, signed in 2021, costs just four dollars per viewer-one-third of the NBA’s rate.
Rather than a crisis for the NBA, this shift signals a growing opportunity for the WNBA. Now in its 29th season, the WNBA is the longest-running professional women’s sports league. If history repeats itself, it could be on the verge of rapid expansion.
Between its 25th and 50th seasons, the NBA saw its revenue soar by 1200 percent, fueled by its merger with the ABA. The WNBA doesn’t have a direct counterpart to merge with, but it does have room to grow. Its first-ever game in Toronto in 2023 sold out Scotiabank Arena, and major markets like Boston, Detroit, Houston, and Miami still lack teams.
For the WNBA to continue its upward trajectory, financial changes are crucial. Currently, WNBA players receive just 10 percent of league revenue, while NBA players earn 50 percent of basketball-related income. With the league’s next collective bargaining agreement approaching, increasing player salaries could help attract and retain top talent.
Luka Doncic’s arrival in Los Angeles was a major event, but the real takeaway from the viewership numbers is the WNBA’s rising influence. If the league continues expanding into new markets and adjusting its financial model, its future looks brighter than ever.
Read the full article here
