The Las Vegas Aces were crowned WNBA champions once again as they defeated the New York Liberty in one of the most watched Finals in league history. The Aces are now the third franchise in WNBA history with a back-to-back championship (Houston Comets 1997-2000, Los Angeles Spark 2001-2002).
According to ESPN, Game 1 of the highly anticipated finals matchup averaged 729,000 viewers and peaked at 885,000.
For Nike, the momentum in the WNBA is in a golden spot with the Swoosh being the league sponsor since 2018 and an investor since 2022. Additionally, the Nike Sabrina 1 is a catalyst for the brand with Sabrina Ionescu becoming the face for the future of the WNBA with her signature shoe. In the eyes of Nike executive Tanya Hvizdak, these WNBA Finals are just another evolution for the league.
“These record-breaking WNBA finals between the Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty marked a moment where the game has never been more exciting, more competitive or more celebrated especially with the level of play from A’ja Wilson,” said Tanya Hvizdak, VP, Global Womens Sports Marketing at Nike. “But this isn’t just about celebrating a moment, it’s about backing our belief in women’s sport as we redefine the future of sport for the next generation.”
Both rosters had star power with Aces’ A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young (Candace Parker and Chelsea Gray were out with injury) and Liberty’s Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, Courtney Vandersloot and Jonquel Jones.
As the league continues to grow with a WNBA franchise arriving in the Bay Area soon, more viewership and a new dynasty is an opportunity for the league but also for the growth of women’s basketball.
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