ESPN Delivers Second Most-Watched WNBA Draft Ever
Published on April 15, 2026 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) News Release
ESPN today announced that the 2026 WNBA Draft delivered the second most-watched WNBA Draft ever, averaging 1.50 million viewers, according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel. The audience marks a 20% increase over last year's Draft and trails only the record-setting 2024 event (2.45 million viewers).
The 2026 WNBA Draft peaked at 1.79 million viewers from 7:45-7:59 p.m. ET, as fans tuned in to see the league's next generation of stars take the stage.
Across television on Monday night, the 2026 WNBA Draft ranked as the most-viewed program among Adults 18-34 and Males 25-54. On cable, the telecast was the No. 1 program of the night among People Under 50, Adults 18-34, Adults 18-49, Adults 25-54, Males 18-34, Males 18-49 and Males 25-54.
Women's National Basketball Association Stories from April 15, 2026
- Lynx Complete Basketball Operations Staff - Minnesota Lynx
- Phoenix Mercury Re-Sign Monique Akoa Makani, Natasha Mack and Kathryn Westbeld - Phoenix Mercury
- ESPN Delivers Second Most-Watched WNBA Draft Ever - WNBA
- Seattle Signs Five Players to Training Camp Contracts - Seattle Storm
- Valkyries Sign Caroline Ducharme, Bailey Maupin and Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda to Training Camp Contracts - Golden State Valkyries
- New York Liberty Re-Sign Betnijah Laney-Hamilton - New York Liberty
- Portland Fire Signs Teja Oblak, Kamiah Smalls and Peyton Williams - Portland Fire
- Chicago Sky 2026 Draft Party Gallery Presented by Revolution Brewing - Chicago Sky
- Indiana Fever Sign Guard Shatori Walker-Kimbrough - Indiana Fever
- Fever Continue to Assemble Roster, Sign Walker-Kimbrough - Indiana Fever
- Indiana Fever Team up with Habitat for Humanity To Build a Home for Indianapolis Single Mother - Indiana Fever
- Madison Hayes, Harmoni Turner, and Raegan Beers Sign Training Camp Offers with the Connecticut Sun - Connecticut Sun
- Toronto Tempo Sign Dara Mabrey to Training Camp Contract - Toronto Tempo
- Toronto Tempo Unveils Inaugural Court Design at Coca-Cola Coliseum - Toronto Tempo
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
