Unrivaled Ratings Struggle in Second Season But Future Still Alive
Unrivaled burst onto the scene as a bold new chapter for women’s basketball in the offseason, powered by star players and big money contracts that lit up social media and packed arenas. In its first season, the league delivered memorable moments and some of the most watched games for women’s hoops on cable. However, the second season has brought a stark reality check when it comes to television ratings.
Ratings Drop Sparks Buzz Among Fans
When the 2026 season tipped off, viewership was far below what fans and analysts expected. Early games averaged around 175,000 viewers on TNT and truTV, and certain windows on truTV saw figures dip into the low tens of thousands. Those numbers are a sharp drop from last season, when regular season and playoff games on TNT averaged over 220,000 viewers with peaks near 380,000 for marquee matchups.
Part of the reason for this decline lies in scheduling. The opening weekend of the new season went head to head with major sporting events including NFL wild card matchups and the College Football Playoff, pushing Unrivaled out of the spotlight on key nights.
Breanna Stewart Talks Real Vision and Growth
New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart, a cofounder of the league, addressed the disappointing numbers with honesty. She stressed that while consistently strong TV ratings are absolutely important, building a lasting league takes more than one weekend of broadcast results. Stewart emphasized that fans are still adapting to seeing high level women’s basketball in this format outside of established leagues around the world.
Stewart also highlighted that expectations need to be grounded in how fans interact with basketball at nontraditional times on network schedules. She made it clear that the league is watching these numbers closely and wants to grow its audience across all platforms.
Ratings Are One Piece of a Bigger Puzzle
Hardcore sports fans know that ratings are only one way to measure success. Behind the scenes, Unrivaled has made financial progress with revenue reportedly climbing and merchandise engagement trending upward compared to last year’s kickoff. Social media engagement is up as well, showing that interest in the brand itself remains strong.
Ticket sales for upcoming games outside Miami are selling out, proving that live fan interest still exists even if TV numbers have not matched expectations. Those sold out crowds show that the on court product still resonates when fans can be in the arena.
A Rallying Cry For Fans
For sports fans who live and breathe basketball, this situation recalls the tough early seasons of other leagues that eventually found their footing. Unrivaled is still in its infancy and the stars behind it know that building a loyal fan base takes time and consistency. The league’s founders and leaders continue to stress a long term vision even as they chase better viewership.
This moment is a reminder of how competitive the sports media landscape has become and how critical it is for emerging leagues to connect with fans both at home and in the arena. Unrivaled has talent, passion and a clear mission. What it needs next is sustained engagement that makes basketball fans everywhere tune in with the same urgency they bring to the biggest games of the year.
