Hold onto your foam fingers, folks! The WNBA Finals not only gave us an edge-of-your-seat finish but also a historic victory for the New York Liberty—and yes, the ratings gods were watching. In a series that will likely keep conspiracy theorists buzzing for the next two decades, the Liberty clinched their first-ever WNBA championship, while fans and critics alike questioned what exactly went down on the hardwood.
According to ESPN, Game 5 of the New York Liberty vs. Minnesota Lynx showdown on Sunday raked in a jaw-dropping 2.15 million viewers. To put it bluntly, the last time this many people were glued to a WNBA Finals game, Y2K was still a thing. That’s right, we’re talking 1999 levels of attention when the Liberty and Houston Comets duked it out before a whopping 3.25 million viewers. Talk about a throwback!
But hey, don’t let the soaring viewership distract you from the elephant in the room—questionable officiating. (Yeah, I said it!) Fans are side-eyeing the WNBA like, “Did the refs just hand the Liberty their crown?” The Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart might’ve had a shooting night they’d rather forget, but it didn’t stop New York from squeaking by with a 67-62 overtime win. Meanwhile, Minnesota’s Napheesa Collier did everything short of pulling a LeBron to drag the Lynx across the finish line, only to fall just short. You could say the Lynx got “Collier-ed,” but let’s not go there.
Viewers weren’t just tuning in for the basketball; they were tuning in for the drama. And boy, Game 5 had enough to rival your favorite reality TV show. But hold up—it wasn’t just the season finale grabbing attention. Game 4 had its moment in the spotlight too, pulling in 1.7 million viewers. That’s like Game of Thrones numbers for basketball purists.
Meanwhile, behind the scenes, the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) has thrown a metaphorical Molotov cocktail into the league’s current collective bargaining agreement (CBA). WNBA players voted to opt out of the current deal, essentially saying, “Yeah, we’re happy the league’s growing, but how about throwing some of that viewership cash our way?” They’re aiming for a new CBA that reflects the league’s growth and (ahem) their role in driving that growth. I mean, when you’re breaking 25-year-old viewership records, a little extra in the paycheck doesn’t seem like too much to ask, right?
So, while the Liberty celebrates their shiny new trophy and the Lynx nurse their Game 5 wounds, the real game might be off the court as players and league officials prepare for some intense bargaining. Grab your popcorn—this showdown’s just getting started!