Shattering Records: WNBA All-Star Game Poised for Historic Milestones
by Bennett Silvyn
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The WNBA is experiencing a landmark season marked by unprecedented fan engagement and record-breaking viewership numbers. The 2024 WNBA All-Star Game in Phoenix, scheduled for July 20, is set to highlight this surge in popularity with staggering voting figures and high expectations.
2024 WNBA All-Star “Welcome to Phoenix” Signage on Footprint Center (Photo: Phoenix Mercury)
In the 20th edition of the star-studded game, the WNBA will implement a Team WNBA vs. Team USA format, featuring the entire Olympic team roster taking on 12 WNBA All-Stars. The change also introduced a fresh twist to the uniforms.
In the first half, Team WNBA will don pink-and-orange ombré jerseys with “WNBA All-Star” and the league’s emblem. The second-half jerseys will be black with ombré hues on the V-neck.
The jerseys feature “WNBA All-Star Edition 2024” and 20 stars to mark the game’s 20th anniversary, with an orange “1/144” tag honoring the league’s 144 players. Team WNBA All-Stars will have personalized stars on the back, indicating their All-Star appearances. The matching shorts will include a wavy design and a “AS24” patch.
And for the first time ever, the WNBA All-Star Game court will have its own logo.
Fan voting for the WNBA All-Star Game has reached historic levels. In 2023, the top 11 players in All-Star fan voting collectively received 702,202 votes. This year, Caitlin Clark, a rookie with Indiana Fever, garnered a jaw-dropping 700,735 votes, nearly matching last year’s combined total for the top players. For context, the most-voted player in 2023, Vegas Aces Star A’ja Wilson, received 95,860 votes, spotlighting the explosive growth in fan interest and engagement. The WNBA also saw a 33 percent increase in fan voting and a 100 percent growth in the number of partners activating.
Phoenix Mercury Players Brittney Griner (left) and Diana Taurasi (right). (Photo: Phoenix Mercury)
The WNBA has set new benchmarks for viewership this season. A highly anticipated game between Clark and Phoenix Mercury’s Diana Taurasi drew remarkable ratings. The Fever, winning 88-82 in the game on June 30, averaged 1.9 million viewers, making it the second-most-watched WNBA game in ESPN’s history. The only game to surpass it was the Fever’s matchup against the Chicago Sky on June 23, which averaged 2.302 million viewers, the highest in 23 years. The Fever-Mercury game peaked at 2.7 million viewers, a notable achievement for a cable-only broadcast.
The surge in viewership extends beyond these marquee matchups. According to Vox, the average viewership of WNBA games on ESPN has risen dramatically, from 440,000 in 2023 to 1.4 million viewers this season. This growth reflects a broader trend of growing interest in women’s sports and increased visibility for the WNBA.
The Phoenix Mercury averaged 9,197 fans per game last season, the second highest in the league, and this season, the average attendance has increased slightly to 9,239. The Mercury has maintained a consistently high and passionate fan base, making Phoenix the perfect spot to show the growing enthusiasm for the WNBA.
The WNBA All-Star Game is not just breaking records in viewership and attendance but also in merchandise sales. Last season’s All-Star event set a record for merchandise sold, with a 107 percent increase over the previous year’s record-setting sales in Chicago. With an all-time-high 16 licensees across six locations on site, sales were up 658% compared to the last time the All-Star Game was held in Las Vegas in 2021. Additionally, there was a 70 percent increase in merchandise sales at the fan festival WNBA Live, presented by U.S. Bank. These numbers are likely to significantly increase at the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game.
The Phoenix Mercury announced the 2024 WNBA All-Star game on July 17, 2023, at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage / NBAE via Getty Images)
Last season, the WNBA All-Star Game set a new viewership record with 850,000 viewers and a peak of 955,000. Given the current trends, it is likely that this year’s All-Star Game will surpass those numbers, further cementing the WNBA’s status as a major player in the sports world.
The WNBA’s meteoric rise in popularity is not just a fleeting trend; it signifies a deeper shift in the sports landscape. The league is poised for sustained growth, with star rookie players like Clark and Angel Reese drawing massive fan bases and delivering exciting performances. The increase in viewership and fan engagement is a testament to the WNBA’s expanding influence and the growing recognition of the talent and entertainment value it offers.
As we look ahead, the WNBA is set to continue breaking barriers and setting new records, proving that the future of basketball is bright and inclusive.