The WNBA is facing one of its biggest credibility crises yet after being accused of lying about its Finals ratings, which the league proudly claimed had “broken a 25-year record.” But as details continue to surface, it appears the truth behind the numbers might be far less impressive than what fans were led to believe.

Earlier this week, the WNBA’s official account posted a celebratory announcement declaring that the 2025 Finals achieved the “highest viewership in more than two decades.” The post immediately went viral, with major outlets echoing the league’s claim and praising the Finals as a historic success for women’s sports.

However, within hours, independent analysts and sports media watchdogs began to raise red flags. Data released by third-party ratings agencies painted a very different picture — one that suggests the league may have exaggerated or selectively presented its figures.

According to Nielsen data reviewed by Sports Media Monitor, the actual live broadcast numbers for Game 3 of the Finals were “significantly lower” than what the league reported. While the WNBA claimed an average of 5.2 million viewers across platforms, the verified figure appeared to hover closer to 2.7 million.

Even more concerning, some of the “record-breaking” numbers reportedly included non-live streams, highlight clips, and social media impressions — data categories that traditional ratings systems do not count toward official viewership.

“It’s misleading at best, deceptive at worst,” said a senior sports media analyst who spoke on condition of anonymity. “They combined digital engagement, YouTube highlights, and social media reach to inflate the number. It’s not a lie in a technical sense, but it’s absolutely not what fans think of when they hear ‘ratings record.’”

The backlash was swift. Fans flooded social media, accusing the WNBA of manipulating statistics to create a false narrative about its popularity. “We love the game, but don’t insult our intelligence,” one fan wrote on X. “If the league is growing, great — just be honest about the numbers.”

Several prominent journalists echoed the sentiment, questioning why the league would risk its credibility with a misleading claim. “The WNBA had a legitimate reason to celebrate,” one columnist wrote. “Viewership is up year over year. But by inflating the data, they turned a real win into a PR disaster.”

Behind the scenes, tensions reportedly erupted between the league’s communications team and network partners after executives learned that the published figures were inconsistent with official network reports. ESPN, which broadcasted the Finals, has so far declined to comment on the controversy.

Commissioner Cathy Engelbert addressed the issue briefly in a press conference Friday morning, insisting that the numbers were “accurate within the context of our total audience metrics.” However, when pressed to clarify whether those figures referred to live TV ratings or digital reach, Engelbert sidestepped the question.

“Today’s fans engage across multiple platforms,” she said. “We’re proud that our audience continues to grow across television, streaming, and social media.”

That response did little to calm critics. “It’s spin, plain and simple,” said one marketing executive familiar with the league’s promotional strategies. “They’re counting likes and TikTok clips as part of viewership. That’s not how audience measurement works.”

The controversy comes at a pivotal time for the WNBA, which has experienced both explosive growth and escalating scrutiny in recent years. The arrival of star players like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and A’ja Wilson has drawn unprecedented attention, but also polarized reactions about how the league manages its image and messaging.

Now, with its reputation under fire, the WNBA faces the daunting task of regaining public trust. Fans who once celebrated the league’s surge in popularity are demanding transparency and accountability — not marketing spin.

As one analyst summed it up: “The WNBA finally had momentum. But instead of letting the numbers speak for themselves, they tried to manufacture a headline — and it backfired.”

Whether this PR nightmare will have lasting effects remains to be seen. But for now, the league that prided itself on breaking barriers finds itself battling a different kind of opponent — the truth.