Saturday's L.A. Sparks-Phoenix Mercury game was WNBA's most-watched opener in eight yearsNBAE/Getty Images
The WNBA delivered its "most-watched opening weekend in years" at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., and as a result, ESPN yesterday "added 13 more games to its lineup" for this season, according to Thuc Nhi Nguyen of the L.A. TIMES. After L.A. Sparks-Phoenix Mercury was the WNBA's most-watched opener in eight years, ESPN now will air 37 regular-season games across ABC, ESPN and ESPN2. Buoyed by posts from NBA stars, the WNBA "took over social media with its bright orange hoodie with the league’s white logo at the center and it became the most popular item on online retailer Fanatics over the weekend." The men’s version was the "most popular item among gear" in the WNBA store by yesterday morning and women’s sizes "almost were sold out." Sparks F and WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike on the early success said, "That’s what happens when you put women on national TV. People keep talking about [how] you need exposure to get dollars. Well, we need exposure. And people are in position to do that.” Sparks coach Derek Fisher said, "We should have been supporting and putting energy behind the WNBA and women’s basketball, women’s sports, women in business, women in the community for much longer than we have, but we’re doing it now" (L.A. TIMES, 7/28).
