Advertisement

WNBA opening game between Fever and Liberty saw ratings increase of 27% on NBA TV

The early results are in, and fans couldn't wait for the start of the WNBA season. The league's opening game between the Indiana Fever and the New York Liberty saw a ratings increase of 27% on NBA TV, according to Turner Sports.

That is just a one game sample, but fans were eager to see Sabrina Ionescu go head-to-head with Kelsey Mitchell on opening night.

Fans who tuned into the contest were not disappointed. With the game tied, Ionescu hit a three with just 0.4 seconds left on the clock to give the Liberty the 90-87 win.

Women's sports ratings are on the rise

The increase in viewership shouldn't come as a huge surprise, as women's sports ratings are on the rise in the United States. In April, the NCAA Division I women's volleyball championship match between Texas and Kentucky drew 696,000 viewers. At the time, it was the most viewed show on ESPN2 in April. Women's college basketball games and the NWSL have also seen viewership increases over the past year.

The WNBA also trended up last season. Regular season games saw a 68% ratings increase with teams in the "Wubble." The WNBA Finals between the Seattle Storm and Las Vegas Aces saw a ratings increase of 15% compared to the 2019 WNBA Finals.

More from Yahoo Sports: