The WNBA is recording significant viewership growth this summer even as the league faces ongoing controversies involving Indiana Fever forward Sophie Cunningham and Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington. Tuesday's game between Indiana and the New York Liberty in Brooklyn averaged two million viewers on ESPN, marking the network's second-largest regular-season WNBA audience in three decades.
That audience was 116 percent higher than ESPN's regular-season average dating back to last season. Across the entire season, overall WNBA viewership is on a 12 percent uptick, according to Sports Business Journal. The outlet also reported that games on ABC and ESPN are up about 5 percent compared to last year, when Fever star Caitlin Clark was battling season-long injury problems.
The audience gains come while the league manages intense debate surrounding Cunningham and Carrington. Cunningham voiced opposition to transgender athletes competing in women's sports, which sparked protests and counterprotests across several stops on a recent Indiana road trip. The WNBA currently operates without an official league gender-identity policy.
During the final game of that three-game road trip, Carrington was ejected for committing a hard foul against Cunningham. The incident led to uproar from supporters of the Indiana forward, who was left with a bloody mouth from the play.
Social media reaction and fan complaint
Following online criticism over the foul, Carrington, who is Black, wrote "white privilege" on X. She later posted another message denying that the comment was written in response to the foul call, but she did not offer any further explanation.
Carrington came under fire again this week after asking security to remove a spectator during the fourth quarter of a game between the Sky and the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday. Carrington went to officials to complain about the behavior of a fan sitting courtside.
Before Carrington spoke with referees and a Chicago staff member, officials chatted with Sky head coach Tyler Marsh. Chicago team security and arena security representatives stepped out onto the floor, causing a temporary stoppage in play while staff spoke briefly to the spectator.
Security escorted the fan away from his seat, but he later returned to his spot and was seen laughing on camera with the woman sitting beside him. A Valkyries official told ClutchPoints: "The fan was cooperative after a complaint that was unfounded." In a statement to ClutchPoints, the Sky said the fan was given a warning, but otherwise declined to comment.
During the USA Network broadcast, a commentator noted the stoppage as Carrington approached referee Sarah Williams to report the issue. "So, there is a stoppage right now as Chicago's team security has stepped out along with arena security representatives," the commentator said. "Carrington went over to one of the officials, as you see Sarah Williams there, to say something."
A co-commentator on the broadcast added: "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." Play resumed after security escorted the fan away, though he eventually returned to his seat. Carrington finished the 91-71 loss to Golden State with three points and three rebounds in 24 minutes.
