About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The WNBA Finals rating are off to their best start in history.
Game 1 of the best-of-seven series against the Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream Saturday, Oct. 17, averaged a 2.1 million viewers on NBC and Peacock. It was the most-watched WNBA Finals Game 1 ever, based on official Nielsen data. Dream-Valkyries is up 11% vs. last year's Game 1 between the Las Vegas Aces and Phoenix Mercury.
Golden State grinded out a 68-64 victory over Atlanta to hold serve at home in Game 1 at the Chase Center in San Francisco. The Valkyries were led by Gabby Williams, who scored 26 points. Eight other players scored. Their bench was critical, contributing 20 points to the Dream's six.
Veronica Burton #22 of the Golden State Valkyries reacts during the first quarter in game two of the WNBA Finals against the Atlanta Dream at Chase Center on Oct.19, 2026 in San Francisco, Calif. (Ezra Shaw, Getty Images) Veronica Burton #22 of the Golden State Valkyries dribbles against Jordin Canada #3 of the Atlanta Dream during the first quarter in game two of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center on Oct.19, 2026 in San Francisco, Calif. (Ezra Shaw, Getty Images) Kayla Thornton #5 of the Golden State Valkyries reacts with Cecilia Zandalasini #24 during the first quarter in game two of the WNBA Finals against the Atlanta Dream at Chase Center. (Ezra Shaw, Getty Images) Kiah Stokes #41 of the Golden State Valkyries blocks a shot attempt by Angel Reese #5 of the Atlanta Dream during the first quarter in game two of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center on Octo.19, 2026 in San Francisco, Calif. (Ezra Shaw, Getty Images) Kiah Stokes #41 of the Golden State Valkyries blocks a shot attempt by Angel Reese #5 of the Atlanta Dream during the first quarter in game two of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center on Oct. 19, 2026 in San Francisco, Calif. (Ezra Shaw, Getty Images) Kiah Stokes #41 of the Golden State Valkyries blocks a shot attempt by Angel Reese #5 of the Atlanta Dream during the first quarter in game two of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center on Oct. 19, 2026 in San Francisco, Calif. (Ezra Shaw, Getty Images) Ballhalla t-shirts are seen on the seats before game two of the WNBA Finals between the Golden State Valkyries and the Atlanta Dream at Chase Center on Oct. 19, 2026 in San Francisco, Calif. (Ezra Shaw, Getty Images) 1 / 7 WNBA Finals: Atlanta Dream and Valkyries clash for crown in Game 2 Veronica Burton #22 of the Golden State Valkyries reacts during the first quarter in game two of the WNBA Finals against the Atlanta Dream at Chase Center on Oct.19, 2026 in San Francisco, Calif. (Ezra Shaw, Getty Images) 1 / 7 WNBA Finals: Atlanta Dream and Valkyries clash for crown in Game 2 Veronica Burton #22 of the Golden State Valkyries reacts during the first quarter in game two of the WNBA Finals against the Atlanta Dream at Chase Center on Oct.19, 2026 in San Francisco, Calif. (Ezra Shaw, Getty Images) 2 / 7 WNBA Finals: Atlanta Dream and Valkyries clash for crown in Game 2 Veronica Burton #22 of the Golden State Valkyries dribbles against Jordin Canada #3 of the Atlanta Dream during the first quarter in game two of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center on Oct.19, 2026 in San Francisco, Calif. (Ezra Shaw, Getty Images) 3 / 7 WNBA Finals: Atlanta Dream and Valkyries clash for crown in Game 2 Kayla Thornton #5 of the Golden State Valkyries reacts with Cecilia Zandalasini #24 during the first quarter in game two of the WNBA Finals against the Atlanta Dream at Chase Center. (Ezra Shaw, Getty Images) 4 / 7 WNBA Finals: Atlanta Dream and Valkyries clash for crown in Game 2 Kiah Stokes #41 of the Golden State Valkyries blocks a shot attempt by Angel Reese #5 of the Atlanta Dream during the first quarter in game two of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center on Octo.19, 2026 in San Francisco, Calif. (Ezra Shaw, Getty Images) 5 / 7 WNBA Finals: Atlanta Dream and Valkyries clash for crown in Game 2 Kiah Stokes #41 of the Golden State Valkyries blocks a shot attempt by Angel Reese #5 of the Atlanta Dream during the first quarter in game two of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center on Oct. 19, 2026 in San Francisco, Calif. (Ezra Shaw, Getty Images) 6 / 7 WNBA Finals: Atlanta Dream and Valkyries clash for crown in Game 2 Kiah Stokes #41 of the Golden State Valkyries blocks a shot attempt by Angel Reese #5 of the Atlanta Dream during the first quarter in game two of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center on Oct. 19, 2026 in San Francisco, Calif. (Ezra Shaw, Getty Images) 7 / 7 WNBA Finals: Atlanta Dream and Valkyries clash for crown in Game 2 Ballhalla t-shirts are seen on the seats before game two of the WNBA Finals between the Golden State Valkyries and the Atlanta Dream at Chase Center on Oct. 19, 2026 in San Francisco, Calif. (Ezra Shaw, Getty Images) In its return to WNBA coverage, NBC Sports averaged of 1.8 million viewers for its seven regular season games on NBC and Peacock, up 35% vs. comparable coverage last season. This is NBC Sports' first season with WNBA coverage since 2002.
NBC Sports' WNBA Finals coverage continues with Game 4 from State Farm Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, Oct. 24 (1 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock).
Game 3 and Games 5-7 are on USA Network while being streamed on Peacock.
Here are the top local market viewership ratings for Game 1 of the WNBA Finals between the Dream and Valkyries.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: WNBA Finals ratings: Dream-Valkyries Game 1 sets viewership record
Source: Sports
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