In one of the most surprising twists of the 2025 sports season, the WNBA Finals have become a tale of two extremes: while ticket prices for the championship series have plummeted to as low as $35 — sparking questions about fan interest and demand — Game 5 has simultaneously drawn the league’s largest television audience in nearly three decades. The strange contrast has left fans, analysts, and league officials all asking the same question: what exactly is going on with the WNBA right now?

Ticket prices, once expected to soar amid a tightly contested Finals series, have instead collapsed to levels more commonly associated with preseason games than championship showdowns. Fans could score upper-level seats for as little as $35 on the resale market, with some listings dipping even lower in the days leading up to the decisive game. That’s a steep drop from last year, when Finals tickets regularly topped $250 and some premium seats sold for more than $1,000.

“It’s shocking, honestly,” one fan told reporters outside the arena. “This is supposed to be the biggest game of the year, and you can get in for the price of a dinner. It makes you wonder what’s happening with demand.”

Analysts have pointed to several possible factors for the dip. Economic pressures, late scheduling announcements, and a perceived lack of marquee rivalries compared to previous seasons may all be contributing. Others speculate that the dominance of one team in earlier games led casual fans to assume the series wouldn’t be close — only for the Finals to tighten up dramatically as it progressed.

Despite the low ticket prices, the series has been anything but boring on the court. Game 5 delivered a thrilling showdown, featuring highlight-reel performances, dramatic momentum shifts, and a nail-biting finish that had fans on the edge of their seats until the final buzzer. And while in-arena attendance may have been softer than expected, the television numbers tell a very different story.

According to Nielsen data, Game 5 shattered expectations by drawing the highest viewership for a WNBA Finals game in 27 years. Millions tuned in across multiple networks and streaming platforms, smashing records and proving that interest in women’s basketball is skyrocketing — even if that enthusiasm isn’t fully reflected in ticket sales.

“This is a watershed moment for the league,” said one sports media analyst. “The fact that you can have historically low ticket prices and historically high viewership at the same time shows that the WNBA’s audience is evolving. More people are watching than ever before — they’re just doing it from their living rooms.”

That shift reflects broader trends in the sports industry. As streaming becomes the dominant way fans consume live events, in-person attendance is no longer the sole indicator of popularity. Many younger fans, especially, are opting to watch games from home rather than attend in person, even for major events like the Finals.

“Thirty years ago, ticket sales told the whole story,” the analyst added. “Now, they’re just one piece of the puzzle. The WNBA’s reach is expanding, even if that doesn’t always translate into packed arenas.”

Still, the optics of empty seats and discounted tickets at the league’s signature event are raising concerns. Some critics argue that the league and its teams need to do a better job marketing the Finals and building anticipation throughout the season. Others believe the issue lies in pricing strategy — that high initial ticket prices may have driven fans away, forcing last-minute discounts that cheapened the event’s image.

“It’s a problem when your most important game of the year is cheaper to attend than a regular-season matchup,” one sports business expert said. “The league has to figure out how to balance accessibility with prestige.”

For players and coaches, however, the focus remains squarely on the court. The Finals series has delivered intense, high-quality basketball, showcasing the league’s top talent and growing depth. Superstars on both sides have elevated their games, producing moments that will be remembered for years to come — and helping to fuel the record-breaking audience numbers.

“It’s a testament to how far the WNBA has come,” said one veteran player after Game 5. “We’re playing at the highest level, and people are watching. That’s what matters most.”

Indeed, for many observers, the real story isn’t the discounted tickets — it’s the fact that more people are watching women’s basketball than at any point in nearly three decades. The league’s challenge now is to translate that historic interest into stronger attendance and sustained growth as it continues to build on its momentum.

In the end, the 2025 Finals may be remembered as a turning point — a paradoxical moment when the league faced both its challenges and its potential in full view. Ticket prices might have dropped to record lows, but the product on the court has never been stronger, and the audience has never been larger.

If the WNBA can harness that energy and turn millions of viewers into dedicated fans, this Finals series could mark not just a historic season finale — but the beginning of a new era for women’s basketball.