Record set in 2004 broken by viewership

The WNBA draft recently welcomed talented athletes like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese to the league, showcasing the continued growth and popularity of women’s sports, particularly women’s basketball. The 2024 draft set a record with 2.45 million viewers tuning in on ESPN to watch the Indiana Fever select Caitlin Clark as the first overall pick, setting the stage for an impressive draft class that included other standout players like Cameron Brink, Kamilla Cardoso, Rickea Jackson, and Angel Reese.

The draft class of 2024 has been described as a generational one, with viewership peaking and interest in women’s basketball on the rise. Players like Rickea Jackson expressed gratitude for being part of such a historic draft class, recognizing the positive direction in which women’s basketball is heading. This sentiment was further reinforced by the record-breaking viewership of the NCAA championship game, where Cardoso and the South Carolina Gamecocks defeated Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes in the most watched women’s basketball game ever.

The 2024 WNBA draft not only saw historic viewership numbers but also marked the largest television audience for the league in over two decades. In comparison to previous drafts, where viewership numbers were significantly lower, the 2024 draft showcased the increased interest and support for women’s basketball. This milestone reflects the growing popularity of women’s sports and the significance of these talented athletes entering the top level of the sport.