The WNBA’s global online searches surged 140% in 2025, and the data behind that number tells a bigger story. Women’s sports isn’t just growing - it’s now leading digital attention across the entire global sports landscape, backed by revenue milestones and structural shifts that previous eras lacked.
The Search Spike Heard Everywhere
The headline number is striking: a 140% increase in global online searches for the WNBA across 2025. That kind of single-season surge ranks among the most dramatic for any North American sports property in recent memory. It wasn’t driven by one viral moment. It was sustained, season-long demand.
High-intent search categories signal fans ready to spend time, money, and attention - and that’s exactly what the data showed. Fans searched for game schedules, streaming access, player stats, and ticket availability. Star-driven queries turned individual athlete storylines into league-wide digital fuel.
Women’s Sports Rewrites Digital Rules
9 out of the top 10 global sports properties for online search growth in 2025 were women’s or mixed-gender competitions. That’s not a trend. It’s a takeover.
TV viewership backed it up, posting numbers 21% higher than the prior season. The commercial side responded too. The league generated enough revenue to trigger sharing for the first time, with players receiving roughly $16 million. Digital performance wasn’t a nice bonus anymore - it became the primary investment thesis.
