One of the biggest lies being told throughout the sports world is that the WNBA doesn’t bring in an audience.
The league is actually thriving.
Per the WNBA:
Combined viewership for the WNBA across ESPN Networks (ABC, ESPN, ESPN2) and the CBS Television Network was up 16 percent over the 2021 regular season, averaging 379,000 viewers, making it the most-viewed season for the league’s television partners in 14 years.
Playoff numbers are up as well, and as one would suspect, the W is continuing to capture more of an audience as it’s given more of a national spotlight.
But the audience isn’t strictly limited to TV and streaming viewership during WNBA games. It’s also welcoming a betting audience.
That’s right, the W is seeing a monumental increase in the betting industry.
FanDuel Sportsbook reports that the WNBA has drawn “significant interest” over the summer with increases of 270% in bet count and 101% in handle YoY across all legalized states (like PA and NJ).
Is it because bettors are fans? Engaged with the game? Is it the only thing on? https://t.co/HaRqVhNmjH
— Katie Kohler (@kkohler1129) August 31, 2022
While FanDuel has seen a remarkable 270 percent jump in bet counts over the year, BetMGM has received nearly three times the number of WNBA bets this year over last and Tipico Sportsbook’s bet count is up 185 percent over the same span.
Increased interest usually leads to increased offerings on betting markets. So while more basic betting such as game lines and team props are some of the popular WNBA bets being offered, it may not be long before bets like “first field goal” or “race to 15 points” become mainstays, as we see in the NBA.
Everything could soon be on the table as far as WNBA betting goes, which in addition to an already tremendous on-court product, surely makes for more enticing action on the side.
