The 2025 WNBA season tipped off on Friday, May 16th with the State Farm WNBA Friday Night Spotlight on ION and featured a national doubleheader of debuts:
- The first game saw the regular season premiere of Paige Bueckers, selected No.1 overall by the Dallas Wings in the recent WNBA draft presented by State Farm®, as the Wings hosted the Minnesota Lynx, with the Lynx coming out on top 99-84.
- The nightcap featured the first-ever game of the league’s newest franchise, the Golden State Valkyries, as they took on the Los Angeles Sparks, who won the game 84-67.
The WNBA 2025 season opening night on ION racked up gains of +120% in Persons 2+ versus the first doubleheader on ION last season (Washington Mystics/Connecticut Sun, Seattle Storm/Minnesota Lynx – 5/17/24).
- First games coverage on ION on Friday night was up +121% P2+ versus the 7:30pm game of the first ION doubleheader last season (Washington Mystics/Connecticut Sun).
- This is the second most-viewed WNBA on ION telecast ever that did not feature the Indiana Fever (Behind only Connecticut Sun/Las Vegas Aces on 6/21/2024)
- The second game Sparks/Valkyries at 10pm was up +119% P2+ versus the 10pm game on the night of the first ION doubleheader last season (Seattle Storm/Minnesota Lynx).
- This is the third most-viewed WNBA on ION telecast ever that did not feature the Indiana Fever (Behind only Connecticut Sun/Las Vegas Aces on 6/21/2024 and the Wings/Lynx game earlier in the evening.)