WNBA Tip-Off Weekend a Success On and Off the Court
May 31, 2013 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) News Release
NEW YORK - With the anticipated national television debut of the "3 to See" -- rookies Brittney Griner, Elena Delle Donne, and Skylar Diggins -- WNBA Tip-off 2013 presented by Boost Mobile delivered exciting basketball, saw increased attendance and strong viewership, and experienced record-setting online traffic.
Tipping off its 17th season this year, the WNBA saw year-to-year attendance jump 2.7 percent and arenas filled to 85 percent capacity. Fans witnessed impressive play on the court including Griner's record-setting two dunks, Delle Donne's 22-point effort, and reigning WNBA Finals MVP Tamika Catchings pouring in 19 points as the defending champion Indiana Fever topped the San Antonio Silver Stars on opening night.
The second game of the Memorial Day doubleheader on ESPN2, featuring the Chicago Sky and Phoenix Mercury, was the most-viewed WNBA game on ESPN2 in nine years, delivering 455,000 viewers. Combined with the first game of the day -- the Washington Mystics vs. Tulsa Shock - which attracted 314,000 viewers, the opening day doubleheader was up 60 percent over last year's opening telecast.
Additionally, fans consumed WNBA online content in record numbers. Traffic to WNBA.com soared during opening week with more than 2.2 million page views, an increase of over 35 percent. The WNBA Channel on YouTube (youtube.com/wnba) set a new record with 635,000 videos viewed during opening week.
Women's National Basketball Association Stories from May 31, 2013
- Fever Get Their Championship Rings - Indiana Fever
- Harding and Hoffman to Appear at NBA Nation Event - Los Angeles Sparks
- WNBA Tip-Off Weekend a Success On and Off the Court - WNBA
- Shock Hire New Assistant Coach - Tulsa Shock
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