With more than two weeks still left in the regular season, the WNBA has already drawn more fans than any year in its history.

WNBA sets new attendance record in 2025

League officials confirmed Thursday that 2,501,609 fans have attended 226 games so far in 2025. That number passes the previous record set in 2002, when it took 256 games and a 16-team league to hit the milestone. This year’s record comes with just 13 franchises.

WNBA hits record attendance as fans flock to games in historic season

The surge in interest has been building for several seasons, with women’s basketball drawing unprecedented attention. The Caitlin Clark vs. Angel Reese rivalry helped fuel college basketball ratings and carried over to the WNBA when the two entered the league last year. Indiana Fever games featuring Clark routinely sold out, and the momentum hasn’t slowed even as both Clark and Reese have battled injuries this season.

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New faces and new storylines have kept crowds engaged. Paige Bueckers has turned into an instant star in Dallas, the Golden State Valkyries have added buzz as the league’s expansion team, and national television coverage has been bigger than ever.

The schedule increase has also played a role. Last year’s 40-game slate was expanded to 44 games in 2025, creating even more opportunities for fans to pack arenas. With attendance already at an all-time high, the final weeks of the season are expected to push the total even higher.

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