You can see the difference this year in the WNBA Finals, from the purple glow of Ballhalla to the all-star cast brought in for USA Network’s first Finals. It’s an evolution of WNBA coverage in real time, where the commercials feature Caitlin Clark and the highlights are courtesy of Angel Reese.
And Kate Scott, Tamika Catchings and Sarah Kustok have been bringing it in the three-woman booth. On Monday, Catchings was breaking down defense during the game. This is a woman who won Defensive Player of the Year five times, more than anyone in WNBA history. Then cut to the studio with Teresa Weatherspoon sitting next to Chamique Holdsclaw. I mean, come on. Cheryl Miller. Sue Bird. Tina Charles. These aren't just people who know basketball. These are people who built basketball. New fans get great analysis. Longtime fans get to hear legends explain a game they helped shape.
It’s valid to miss Ryan Ruocco and Rebecca Lobo on the call, along with the OG studio crew of Elle Duncan, Chiney Ogwumike and Andraya Carter. ESPN and ABC have been the home of the Finals for a long time. But in a world where Mike Tirico and Kirk Herbstreit can call the same sport for different outlets, there is room for more.
Give us more combinations. More voices. More generations. And yes, if Peacock wants to give us Cheryl Miller, Sue Bird and Maria Taylor breaking down basketball and then show us video of them dancing and lip-syncing, we’re here for all of it. The Orange Carpet on USA and E! worked for the same reason. Fashion, humor and personality aren't distractions from the WNBA. They're integral to it.
And the audience has been there for it! Before the Finals, USA was averaging 525,000 viewers across 48 games, up 25% from the WNBA's 2025 cable average, according to Versant. Five games topped 1 million viewers. Viewership among women was up 34%. Even CNBC simulcasts introduced 1 million new viewers to the league.
Longtime sports media reporter Richard Deitsch, who covered women’s basketball for Sports Illustrated in the early days of the WNBA, noted that the overall rating is likely to be down given the games are on Peacock and USA Network rather than ABC/ESPN. Game 2 also went head-to-head with Monday Night Football and something called the “World Series.” Without the consistency, the final ratings may be harder to compare with previous years.
But maybe that's not the most interesting number anyway.
For decades, women's basketball fans were told the audience had to come first. Prove people will watch, and then maybe there will be more games, more cameras, more studio shows, more analysis and more investment.
