More Than 2 Million People Watched the All-Star Game

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What to Know About Women’s Basketball Today

1. WNBA All-Star Weekend Brings In Big Numbers 📺

ESPN, ABC, and Disney+ just dropped the viewership stats for 2025 All-Star Weekend—and it was one for the books. (ESPN Press Room)

• The Skills Challenge and 3-Point Contest on Friday brought in 1.3 million viewers, up 89% from last year.

• The game on Saturday drew 2.2 million viewers, making it the second-most watched WNBA All-Star Game ever.

WHY IT MATTERS: Yes, the game drew 36% fewer viewers than last year’s star-studded Team USA vs. Team WNBA matchup (which featured a healthy Caitlin Clark). But let’s zoom out: this is only the second time the game has cracked 2 million viewers. Plus, it drew 52% more viewers than the game in 2023. That’s a huge deal.

The growth is real, and this kind of momentum bodes well for the league’s long-term visibility.

2. Second-Half Power Rankings Are In 👀

The second half of the WNBA season is here, and with it comes new power rankings. ESPN has the Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty at #1 and #2, while the Seattle Storm made a big leap to #5. Meanwhile, the Golden State Valkyries slid two spots to #9.

👉 See the full rankings here

WHY IT MATTERS: Every game matters now—and these rankings offer a real-time look at which teams are finding their rhythm (and which still need to). This point in the season is when things start to get serious. With the playoffs roughly two months away, teams are under pressure to go on winning runs so they clinch one of those 8 playoff spots.

3. Natisha Hiedeman Leaves Game Early With Injury ❤️‍🩹

One half of the beloved “Stud Budz” may be sidelined. Minnesota Lynx guard Natisha Hiedeman exited Tuesday night’s game in the third quarter with an ankle injury and did not return. (ESPN)

WHY IT MATTERS: Hiedeman has been a vital spark off the bench for the Lynx and is in the running for Sixth Player of the Year. Her presence is felt off the court, too—thanks to her hilarious partnership with teammate Courtney Williams.

Together, they’re the Stud Budz, a duo that’s won fans over with their chemistry and content. Their 72-hour live stream over All-Star Weekend drew nearly 500,000 viewers, giving fans a rare, unfiltered peek into the life of WNBA players—and showing how powerful personality can be in growing the game.