Did someone share this email with you? Get daily womenâs basketball updates straight to your inbox. Sign up here!
What to Know About Womenâs Basketball Today
1. WNBA Already Surpasses Last Year's Viewership đş
The WNBA has reached 73 million unique viewers before the All-Star break, topping last season's full-season total of 63 million. And there's still nearly half the regular season left to play. (High Post Hoops)
WHY IT MATTERS: More games are being shown on national television this season, and fans are tuning in. With nearly half the season still remaining, the league is already 16% ahead of last year's total audience. It's also had 29 games top one million viewers, compared to 11 games during all of last season.
đłď¸ Compared to last season, are you watching more WNBA games this year?
2. Lauren Betts Wins the Honda Cup đ
Fresh off leading UCLA to a national championship, Washington Mystics rookie Lauren Betts has been named the 2026 Honda Cup winner. The award recognizes the top female athlete across all college sports each year. (UCLA)
WHY IT MATTERS: Betts' senior season was already one of the best in recent memory, leading UCLA to its first NCAA championship while earning Final Four Most Outstanding Player, Big Ten Player of the Year, and First Team All-American honors. Few awards are bigger in college athletics than the Honda Cup, making this another major honor for everything Betts accomplished during her final season at UCLA.
3. WNBA All-Star Game Draws 3.2 Million Viewers â
This year's WNBA All-Star Game drew 3.2 million viewers, up 44% from last season. The sold-out crowd of 19,783 at Chicago's United Center also set a new WNBA All-Star attendance record. (Yahoo Sports)
WHY IT MATTERS: Itâs safe to say that this yearâs All-Star game was one of the biggest ever. This became the second most-watched WNBA All-Star Game ever, trailing only the record-setting 2024 event. It also outdrew attendance at last season's NBA All-Star Game, showing just how much interest continues to grow around the WNBA.
Make Your Game Gift Feel Like a Moment đď¸
Taking someone to a WNBA game this season? This is a fun way to make it feel even more special.
Download a custom ticket template, print it out, and add your game details. It turns your gift into something they can actually hold onto. Template options are available for all WNBA teams, so itâs ready when youâre ready.
*If you buy through this link, 30 Second Timeout will earn a commission. Thank you for supporting our work!
OVERTIME âąď¸
Love Letter: Tiffany Hayes reflects on Ballhalla and the Golden State Valkyries in a heartfelt new Players' Tribune essay.
Sharing the Spotlight: Dawn Staley will host a new HBCU women's basketball tournament designed to showcase HBCU programs.
The Spectacle: Olivia Miles delivered an incredible between-the-legs, no-look assist to Kayla McBride for a three-pointer that's worth watching.
đłď¸ Poll Results from Yesterday: We asked whether the new centralized replay center would make you more confident in WNBA officiating. Most of you are taking a wait-and-see approach, with 57% choosing "We'll see."
