OutKick Questions the 'Record' WNBA Finals Ratings, Saying the Comparisons Mix Streaming and TV and Leave Out Key Context
Game 6 drew 1.5 million viewers across several platforms. OutKick says the releases blend measurement systems and skip the 2024 Game 5 audience of 2.15 million.
OutKick, Fox's sports site, argues that the "record" claims around this year's WNBA Finals audiences do not hold up without more explanation. This summarizes a critical analysis from a sports outlet, not a neutral audit.
The claim. USA Sports said Game 6, which tipped off at 12:30 p.m. Eastern on a Thursday, averaged 1.5 million viewers, 4 percent more than last year's primetime clincher. The figure combines USA Network, E! and SYFY with streaming led by Peacock, and the release does not say how much came from TV versus streaming.
The context. For Game 4, NBC reported 1.9 million viewers, a 14 percent jump over the 1.67 million record from the 2024 Liberty-Lynx series on ESPN. OutKick says Sports Media Watch put NBC's television audience at 1.66 million, slightly under that mark, and that another 232,000 came from streaming measured separately by Adobe Analytics. The comparison also sets a free broadcast network against ESPN, which requires paid access.
The Game 5 gap. USA Sports called Monday's 1.4 million the second-most-watched Game 5 ever. OutKick says the release left out the record: the 2024 clincher drew 2.15 million on ESPN, which would put this year's number about 35 percent lower. It adds that the 2024 Finals was best-of-five, so that game decided the title, while this year's Game 5 began tied 2-2. Monday's game also faced Cowboys-Eagles on "Monday Night Football" with 18.8 million viewers.
The measurement question. OutKick says Nielsen told clients that mixing outside data with Nielsen metrics in comparative press statements is not permitted, as Fox's Michael Mulvihill noted on X. NBC's WNBA releases still combine Nielsen and Adobe figures, and the Game 6 release cited "panel-only" data without saying whether it was preliminary. OutKick's author asks NBC to say what independent verification applies and whether the number is final.
The schedule. Game 6 was moved from 8 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. so it could be played at State Farm Arena, which the Hawks needed that night. The leagues said they would join the broadcasters in a promotional push for the new time.
Note for readers: this is OutKick's analysis. USA Sports and NBC's replies are not included in the piece. We have not checked the ratings figures ourselves.