Monumental Sports & Entertainment

10/31/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/31/2024 07:45

Monumental Sports Network Celebrates Record-Setting Washington Mystics Viewership During 2024 WNBA Season

Network registered its best-ever linear and streaming viewership for Mystics games this past season

Washington, D.C. (October 31, 2024) - On the heels of the conclusion of the 2024 WNBA season earlier this month,Monumental Sports Network(MNMT) today announced several viewership records set by the Washington Mysticsduring the recently completed season.

During the entirety of the 2024 season, in-game viewership for live Mystics games on MNMT was up 139% compared to last season within the D.C. market (HH). Similarly, the demand for Mystics pre- and postgame programming skyrocketed, up 235% and 122% respectively (HH). (Source: Nielsen Media Research, HH demo. Data based on full 2023 & 2024 seasons on MNMT. DC DMA only.) In 2023, the Mystics became the first WNBA team to feature a dedicated pre- and postgame show for every regional game broadcast, and Mystics Pregame Live took home a Capital Emmy Award in June.

On the digital side, there was also a major spike in streaming viewership for Mystics games, as the number of unique streaming viewers increased 90% in 2024 compared to last season. (Source: Streaming data based on ViewLift reports).

"Thank you to Mystics fans for tuning in and supporting the team throughout the 2024 season - your enthusiasm is what drives us to continue elevating our programming and create a best-in-class viewing experience for everyone," said Zach Leonsis, President of Media & New Enterprises at Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE). "Our growth in Mystics viewership reflects the incredible dedication of our fans and the rapidly growing excitement around women's basketball. We can't wait to see what next season brings."

Mystics viewership on MNMT ended on a particularly high note during the team's final game of the 2024 season. For the September 19 game vs. Indiana, Monumental Sports Network recorded its most watched WNBA regular season broadcast since at least 2017 and outperformed ESPN by 78% and FOX by 40% in the Washington, D.C. market during the game (P2+). (Source: 9/19/2024, data based on overnight QH Playfly report; 2017-2023 data based on Nielsen Media Research; HH, P2+, P25-54 demos, DC DMA only). The game also set a new milestone as the largest attended game in WNBA history with 20,711 fans in attendance.  

The game easily bested the 2023 high viewership mark for the Mystics, outperforming 2023's most-viewed game (P2+) by 157% (8/31/23 vs. Las Vegas). (Source: Nielsen Media Research, P2+ demo. Data based on full 2023 & 2024 seasons on MNMT. DC DMA only.)

During the 2024 season, Monumental Sports Network aired 33 of the Mystics' 40 regular season games on the independent media platform. In addition to the live game broadcasts, new this season MNMT produced Mystics Courtside, a monthly magazine show that featured the best behind-the-scenes moments and off-court stories with Mystics players, staff, and fans. 

In addition to holding the local TV rights for the Mystics, Monumental Sports Network is the exclusive local media rights holder for the NBA's Washington Wizards, NHL's Washington Capitals, and the NBA G League's Capital City Go-Go. It also proudly boasts a comprehensive schedule of original programming and live men's and women's college basketball, college football, college volleyball, high school basketball, and esports, as well as Washington Spirit (NWSL), Old Glory DC (Major League Rugby), Washington Freedom (Major League Cricket), Hershey Bears (AHL), and Annapolis Blues (NPSL) games.

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About Monumental Sports Network
Monumental Sports Network is wholly owned and operated by Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE). The network holds exclusive local television media rights for the NHL's Washington Capitals, NBA's Washington Wizards and WNBA's Washington Mystics games. MNMT is also the TV and digital home to the NBA G League's Capital City Go-Go and the NBA 2K League's Wizards District Gaming as well as exclusive behind-the-scenes content and original sports and entertainment programming. The network also boasts the most comprehensive regional high school and collegiate sports programming in the greater Washington D.C. metro area. For more, visit: www.monumentalsportsnetwork.com.