Tag: wnba all-star

2023 WNBA All-Star Game was the most watched in 16 years

The 2024 WNBA All-Star Game was the most-watched in 16 years with a 16% increase year-over-year.

WNBA All-Star Weekend, including the game and Skills Challenge, broke viewership records. The WNBA All-Star Game, which took place at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas, was the most-watched in 16 years with a 16% increase year-over-year.

The game drew 850,000 viewers with a peak of 955,000.

The WNBA pregame show had almost one million viewers tune in live on ABC. Meanwhile, ESPN televised the Skills Challenge and 3-Point Contest, which had a 43% increase in viewership.

“The All-Star Game definitely contributes just to the overall general excitement about women’s basketball,” said Satou Sabally of the Dallas Wings, via Front Office Sports. “It shows that women’s basketball is fun and exciting to watch, and future partnerships and marketing opportunities definitely arrive from that as well.

“Fan engagement is obviously huge, and I saw some numbers posted that it’s up to like 46% this year from the previous year. That’s amazing.”

During the weekend, the league announced the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game will take place in Phoenix. It marks the third time the Phoenix Mercury have hosted the event.

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Brittney Griner says 2024 All-Star in Phoenix will be ‘a lot of fun’

This will be the third time the Phoenix Mercury have hosted the event, mostly recently in 2014.

The WNBA All-Star Weekend returns to Phoenix in 2024, the league announced. This will be the third time the Phoenix Mercury have hosted the event.

They most recently hosted the festivities in 2014.

“The WNBA is excited to bring WNBA All-Star (Game) back to Phoenix for the third time in our nearly three-decade history,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said. “Having an inaugural WNBA franchise in the Mercury host this two-day celebration is perfect as the basketball world focuses its eyes on the WNBA and today’s greatest stars.”

The event will take place at Footprint Center, home of the three-time WNBA champion Mercury.

“As I’ve said from Day 1, we are going to make Phoenix one of the leading basketball destinations in the world and the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game is going to be an unbelievable experience,” said Mat Ishbia, Phoenix Mercury and Phoenix Suns owner. “As the women’s game continues to grow and reach new heights, we are going to put on an All-Star weekend that will accelerate that growth and elevate the league. I want to thank the WNBA and the entire Phoenix community for coming together to help bring the WNBA All-Star Game to the Valley. I couldn’t be more excited to show the world what Phoenix basketball is all about.”

When asked what to expect at All-Star Weekend in Phoenix, Brittney Griner of the Mercury said: “A lot of fun, a lot of fun. It’s going to be some special things going on. So you’re just going to have to come and see what happens. Hope you get an invite.”

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Satou Sabally named as a WNBA All-Star once again

For just the second time in her four-year career, Satou Sabally is a WNBA All-Star.

The Unicorn strikes again.

Satou Sabally, the former Oregon Ducks women’s basketball standout and all-conference performer and current Dallas Wings starter, was named to the WNBA All-Star team for the second time in her short four-year career.

She was named an All-Star for the first time in 2021.

Sabally is having her best season as a WNBA player as she is averaging career-highs with 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds a game. She is also shooting nearly 30 percent from the three-point stripe and 42 percent from the field.

The Wings are currently 6-7 in the young season and hovering around for a possible playoff spot.

This year’s WNBA All-Star Game will be held in Las Vegas on July 15.

Voting for the 2023 WNBA All-Star Game to conclude on June 21

Fans account for 50% of the vote while WNBA players and media account for 25% each.

The 2023 WNBA All-Star Game will be played in Las Vegas at the Michelob Ultra Arena on July 15 (ABC, 8 p.m. ET). WNBA All-Star voting gives fans the opportunity to select the All-Star starters.

Fans can submit one full ballot each day on WNBA.com and the WNBA App and vote for up to 10 unique players per day on Instagram. Three “2-for-1 days” will allow fans to have their votes count twice on June 11, June 16 and June 21.

Fans account for 50% of the vote while WNBA players and media account for 25% each. The four guards and six frontcourt players with the best score, averaging their weighted rank, will be named as starters for the annual showcase game.

The 10 starters will be revealed on June 25 and the two captains, the two starters who received the most fan votes, will also be announced. WNBA head coaches will select the 12 reserve players for the game. They will be announced July 1.

The head coaches for the game will be the head coaches with the best records following games played on June 30, regardless of conference. The head coach with the best record will coach the team whose captain earned the most fan votes.

Then on July 8, the captains will draft their rosters by selecting first from the starters and then from the 12 reserves. ESPN will broadcast the WNBA All-Star Game draft on July 8 at 1 p.m. ET.

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