A high-drama finish between the Phoenix Mercury and Las Vegas Aces in Game 1 of the 2025 WNBA Finals drew historic viewership, the league announced Tuesday.
The contest last Friday, which the Aces won 89-86 in Las Vegas, averaged 1.9 million viewers with a peak of 2.5 million.
Only the WNBA’s inaugural championship in 1997, a single-game decider between the Houston Comets and New York Liberty, experienced a greater average viewership. However, this year’s Game 1 was the most watched of its kind since the Finals shifted to a series format in 1998.
The nearly two million average was an increase of 62% from 2024 when the eventual champion New York Liberty lost 95-93 in overtime to the Minnesota Lynx.
Through Game 1 of the Finals, the WNBA Playoffs have had average viewership of 1.2 million, which is up 16% from last season.
Beyond historic viewership: Mercury-Aces series so far
The Mercury qualified for their first championship series since losing to the Chicago Sky 3-1 in 2021, whereas the Aces are in their third in four seasons, having won the 2022 and 2023 championship.
RELATED STORIES
Mercury head 'back to the drawing board' after familiar Game 1 loss in WNBA Finals
Jackie Young sets WNBA Finals record as Aces beat Mercury to take 2-0 series lead
In Game 1, the first of two for the higher-seeded Aces in Las Vegas, the Mercury had at least a share of the lead through three quarters but late free throw misses by MVP-caliber guard Alyssa Thomas left them with only a prayer of 3-pointer to force overtime. Kahleah Copper, the only retained Phoenix player from last season, matched Diana Taurasi’s record of five made 3s in a single half in the Finals.
The second contest was much less dramatic, as the Aces were in control from the second quarter on for a 91-78 win. Aces coach Becky Hammon improved her Game 2 playoff record in Las Vegas to 9-0 with Jackie Young falling one point (21) short of a WNBA Playoffs record for most points scored in a single quarter.
Copper has led Phoenix in points (21, 23) in both games so far.
Down 2-0, the Mercury hope to cut the deficit in half on Wednesday as the series moves to Phoenix. They are 3-1 at home this postseason, with their only loss coming in overtime to the Liberty in Game 1 of the first round.
Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. from Mortgage Matchup Center and can be seen on ESPN.
Follow @pwmoses11
Hence then, the article about mercury aces wnba finals game 1 receives most viewership since inaugural season s 1 gamer was published today ( ) and is available on Arizona sports ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Mercury-Aces WNBA Finals Game 1 receives most viewership since inaugural season’s 1-gamer )
Also on site :
- Rainbow Six Siege Servers Reportedly Breached — Players Urged to Avoid Logging In
- Rangers’ woeful offense blanked again: ‘Gotta fix everything’
- Blackhawks 4, Stars 3 (SO) — Three Stars, Key Takeaways