The 2024 WNBA All-Star recreation was essentially the most watched ever in historical past.
This 12 months’s All-Star recreation was one to recollect. With record-breaking temperatures, the WNBA introduced the warmth to Phoenix.
The twentieth annual recreation drew 3.4 million viewers on ABC, making it the most-watched All-Star recreation in WNBA historical past. The third most considered occasion ever throughout all networks, in accordance with ESPN PR, viewership peaked at 4.2 million, over a 300 % improve from final 12 months.
This 12 months’s format was distinctive, marking the second 12 months in historical past to debut Group WNBA vs. Group USA. Whereas some all-star video games current as a enjoyable, dynamic, flowing expertise, this 12 months’s matchup was extremely aggressive, as reported by a number of gamers and coaches.
“Now we have to be locked in, our time collectively is so quick,” mentioned USA Olympian Breanna Stewart previous to Friday’s three-point contest. “Additionally figuring out what occurred final time we had Group USA vs. the All-Stars. It did not go our method.”
With that mentioned, Stewart’s been on this place earlier than. In 2021, Group WNBA defeated Group USA, 93-85 by which Arike Ogunbowale was topped MVP winner with 26 factors. 4 years later, it is a bit of déjà vu for Stewart and firm. And there is one thing about Ogunbowale cooking up in opposition to the USA Basketball Nationwide Olympic Group.