The Women's National Basketball Association has recorded massive television viewership increases this summer despite intense public debate over Indiana Fever forward Sophie Cunningham and Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington.
A Tuesday matchup between the Fever and the New York Liberty in Brooklyn drew an average of 2 million viewers on ESPN. The broadcast became the network's second-most watched regular-season WNBA game in three decades, representing a 116 percent surge over ESPN's regular-season average from last season.
The WNBA, founded in 1996 as the premier women's professional basketball league in North America, has experienced rapid audience growth across multiple broadcast partners. Overall WNBA viewership is on a 12 percent uptick this season, according to Sports Business Journal. Games broadcast on ABC and ESPN are up approximately 5 percent compared to 2025, when Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark missed significant action while battling season-long injuries.
The strong television audience figures come amid ongoing controversies surrounding Cunningham, Carrington, and league policies. Cunningham sparked widespread debate after voicing opposition to athletes in women's sports. Her statements led to protests and counterprotests across several stops on a recent Indiana Fever road trip. The surrounding discussions also highlighted the absence of any league gender-identity policy.
Fever road trip and online reaction
Tensions escalated during the finale of Indiana's three-game road trip when Carrington was ejected for committing a hard foul on Cunningham. The incident provoked immediate outrage from supporters of the Indiana forward.
Following the foul call and subsequent online criticism, Carrington, who is Black, wrote "white privilege" in a post on social media platform X. In a later post, Carrington denied that her comment was written in response to the foul call, though she offered no further explanation.
Carrington faced renewed scrutiny this week during a game against the Golden State Valkyries, an expansion franchise based in the San Francisco Bay Area, on Wednesday. In the fourth quarter of Chicago's game against Golden State, Carrington approached game officials to complain about the behavior of a fan sitting courtside.
Courtside fan removal and security intervention
Arena security representatives and Chicago team security stepped out to address the complaint, leading to a temporary stoppage in play. Security personnel escorted the spectator away from his courtside seat during the final quarter.
However, the fan was later permitted to return to his seat. "The fan was cooperative after a complaint that was unfounded," a Valkyries official told news outlet ClutchPoints. In a statement released to ClutchPoints, the Chicago Sky confirmed that the spectator received a warning, but the team otherwise declined to comment further.
Prior to Carrington speaking with referees and a Chicago staff member, officials held a brief discussion with Sky head coach Tyler Marsh. The Chicago staff member then spoke briefly with the fan, who was subsequently seen laughing on camera alongside a woman seated next to him.
The broadcast team on USA Network highlighted the security intervention as it unfolded live. "So, there is a stoppage right now as Chicago's team security has stepped out along with arena security representatives," a commentator on the USA Network telecast said.
Referee conversation and game completion
As security led the fan away, Carrington approached official Sarah Williams on the court. "Carrington went over to one of the officials, as you see Sarah Williams there, to say something," the USA Network commentator noted during the broadcast.
A co-commentator on the telecast addressed the situation as play prepared to resume. "I don't know what was or wasn't said. I will say respect for the players is something, especially right now, that is being taken very seriously from everybody around the league, as it should be," the co-commentator said.
Play resumed while security escorted the spectator from his seat, though he was eventually seen back in his spot before the conclusion of the contest. Carrington finished the game with three points and three rebounds in 24 minutes of action as the Sky suffered a 91-71 defeat to the Valkyries.
