Increased Ratings, Attendance and Sellouts
July 2, 2008 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) News Release
NEW YORK, July 2, 2008 - Double-digit growth in TV ratings, record traffic to WNBA.com, increased attendance and sellouts set the tone as the WNBA nears the halfway point of its 12th season. WNBA ratings are up 20 percent on ABC (0.6 rating vs. 0.5) and 22 percent on ESPN2 (0.22 vs. 0.18), while average attendance through June has increased 2.44 percent vs. a comparable period in 2007 (7,519 vs. 7,340). Highlighting the attendance growth are 18 sellouts registered to date - already surpassing the 17 total sellouts for the entire 2007 regular season. In June, WNBA.com set an all-time record for monthly site visits with nearly 3 million, a 35 percent increase over June 2007. WNBA.com also experienced a single-day video record of nearly 95,000 streams on June 23, one day after Parker became the second player in WNBA history to dunk in a regular season game. WNBA merchandise sales at the NBA Store on Fifth Avenue and at WNBAStore.com increased 34 percent versus the same time last year, led by sales of Parker jerseys. The strong WNBA fan response is fueled by outstanding performances on the court as All-Stars take their game to new heights and the most heralded draft class in league history has delivered. A pair of perennial All-Stars reached milestones with Lisa Leslie becoming the first WNBA player to record 3,000 career rebounds and Tina Thompson joining Leslie as the second player to reach the 5,000 career points plateau. Rookie sensations Candace Parker and Candice Wiggins ("Ace" and "Ice") have flourished - with Parker ranking among the league leaders in points, rebounds, blocks, assists and steals per game and Wiggins leading all rookie scorers - while first-round picks Alexis Hornbuckle and Nicky Anosike are pacing the league in steals per game. Later this month, the New York Liberty host a historic event - The Liberty Outdoor Classic - the first-ever regular season professional basketball game to be held outdoors. The July 19 game against the Indiana Fever will be held at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens, NY, at 7:30 p.m. and televised on MSG.
Check out the Women's National Basketball Association Statistics
Women's National Basketball Association Stories from July 2, 2008
- Comets guard undergoes surgery - Houston Comets
- Minnesota Lynx Daily - Minnesota Lynx
- Increased Ratings, Attendance and Sellouts - WNBA
- Sacramento Monarchs Weekly Update - Sacramento Monarchs
- Lakers' Derek Fisher Joins Sparks' Broadcast Team - Los Angeles Sparks
- Sparks' Candace Parker nominated for ESPY Award - Los Angeles Sparks
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