The 2025 WNBA preseason signals more than the start of another basketball campaign—it defines a turning point in the league’s evolution. As rosters reload and rivalries reignite, this year’s preseason games carry weight beyond wins and losses. The league isn't just preparing for competitive play, but demonstrating the accelerating pace of progress for women’s professional sports.
Greater investment in broadcasting rights has transformed visibility. Streamlined coverage, multi-angle replays, and expert commentary now meet a rapidly growing fanbase. DIRECTV, in a strategic role as a primary media partner, is delivering coast-to-coast access to every key matchup, amplifying the WNBA’s reach and spotlighting its stars with nationwide clarity.
The story that unfolds this preseason isn’t just about basketball; it’s about how premium coverage and next-generation talent are rewriting expectations. Ready to see what comes next?
The 2025 WNBA preseason marks a decisive turning point in professional women’s basketball. For the first time, the buildup to the regular season is drawing widespread national attention, driven by a combination of elite talent, bold media partnerships, and a growing fanbase that no longer fits in the margins.
Viewership data backs up this momentum. The 2023 WNBA season set viewership records, with national broadcasts averaging 505,000 viewers per game—up 46% from the previous season, according to Nielsen. That surge has only intensified interest heading into 2025, with preseason matchups now getting full national coverage and in-depth analysis, including through DIRECTV’s expansive sports network offerings.
This level of media commitment has reshaped how fans engage with the league. Preseason games, once considered warmups, are now being tracked play-by-play, dissected on social media, and broadcast in primetime slots. Fans looking to watch the 2025 WNBA preseason make history on DIRECTV will experience coverage that rivals major men’s league openers in both production quality and narrative depth.
Rookies entering the 2025 season bring not just skill but a massive wave of anticipation. Headlining the rookie class are collegiate phenoms who led NCAA statistics in scoring, assists, and two-way efficiency during their final seasons. Notably:
Their preseason performances will shape team dynamics immediately. Expectations aren’t centered solely on potential—they’re built on data-backed performance, deep scouting reports, and a league that now moves faster on player development and integration.
This preseason, WNBA teams aren't just playing—they’re signaling a transformation. The league has scheduled more preseason games than ever before, including matchups at historically Black colleges and international venues, a first in its 28-year history.
Expectations include:
In short, the 2025 WNBA preseason is not an appetizer. It’s a defining moment where new stars step onto the national stage, legacy franchises recalibrate, and media platforms, like DIRECTV, elevate women’s sports with the scale and seriousness long overdue.
DIRECTV doesn’t just air women’s sports. It invests in them. The broadcaster has steadily expanded its women’s sports portfolio, positioning itself as a core advocate for visibility, inclusion, and quality production standards across leagues. This initiative isn’t new—it’s evolving. With the 2025 WNBA preseason on the horizon, DIRECTV solidifies its role not as a secondary broadcaster, but as a central platform for women’s basketball fans nationwide.
This strategy aligns with broader industry trends: Nielsen data from 2023 shows that viewership of women's sports rose by 28% year-over-year in the U.S. DIRECTV recognized the momentum early and adjusted its programming roadmap to meet growing demand with focused attention, not filler content.
DIRECTV’s Channel 671—a key hub within its regional sports roster—now plays host to select live WNBA preseason matchups. This shift places the WNBA alongside other premier sports content, elevating not only the games but the stage on which they air. It transforms the perception of preseason. These aren’t just warm-ups—they’re prime-time features with curated intros, expert commentary, and production quality equal to any regular season broadcast.
Integration is happening at the programming level. DIRECTV engineers game-day slates that move seamlessly between WNBA and NBA matchups, drawing shared audiences and leveraging cross-promotions with verified success. This approach removes traditional silos between men’s and women’s leagues. On any given evening, a viewer can pivot from Phoenix Mercury coverage directly into Los Angeles Lakers post-game—all within the same interface.
The message is direct: women’s sports belong in the mainstream grid. When the 2025 WNBA preseason tips off, DIRECTV customers won’t be toggling to find it. They’ll already be tuned in—same network, same standard, new history being made.
DIRECTV brings the 2025 WNBA preseason directly to your screen with comprehensive live coverage. Every major game, every buzzer-beater, every breakout performance—aired in real time and in high-definition.
For fans who prefer flexibility, streaming delivers a seamless way to follow the action. Whether you're on the move or lounging at home, the preseason comes with you.
Every fan watches differently. DIRECTV supports that diversity by offering real-time access on a range of devices—not just your living room TV.
Ready for tip-off? With every screen and every stream accounted for, you're set to watch the 2025 WNBA preseason make history on DIRECTV.
DIRECTV’s 2025 WNBA preseason lineup offers access to marquee matchups that set the tone for a historic year. One of the most anticipated games features the Las Vegas Aces facing the New York Liberty—two franchises with deep rosters, passionate fanbases, and unfinished business. The last three regular-season meetings between these teams were decided by a combined total of just 11 points, and their preseason clash promises more drama.
Don’t overlook the face-off between the Connecticut Sun and the Atlanta Dream. With both squads making significant off-season acquisitions, their first meeting of 2025 will reveal how well those additions integrate into existing systems. DIRECTV brings this game to the screen in 4K, giving fans a courtside feel right from home.
Rookie excitement peaks as the Indiana Fever go head-to-head with the Seattle Storm, showcasing recent No.1 overall pick Jade Robinson. Already hailed as a game-changer during her college career at UConn, Robinson opens her pro journey in front of millions watching via DIRECTV. Meanwhile, Storm fans are eager to see how their veteran core mentors this season’s promising draftees during high-intensity minutes.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Sky vs. Phoenix Mercury game highlights a different narrative—redemption. Both teams missed the playoffs last year and enter the preseason carrying a refreshed sense of urgency. Sky’s rebuilt frontcourt, combined with Mercury’s returning All-Stars, sets up a strategic battle full of first-quarter energy and clutch-time lessons.
These games aren’t just seasonal warm-ups. They’re early canvases for strategy, athleticism, and breakout narratives only available live through DIRECTV’s expanding sports portfolio.
The 2025 WNBA preseason delivers a rare opportunity to track the game’s future superstars from day one. With top draft picks entering the league and rising veterans stepping into bigger roles, the energy on the court tells a story of new rivalries, evolving team dynamics, and high-stakes breakout moments.
This year’s rookie class has arrived with both hype and impact. Cameron Brink, selected first overall by the Los Angeles Sparks, brings elite shot-blocking ability and rim protection. At Stanford, she averaged 3.4 blocks per game in her senior year, leading the nation. Her defensive presence is already reshaping how opponents approach the paint.
Kaitlyn Chen steps into the Washington Mystics’ backcourt with supreme court vision and pace control. Coming off a senior season at Princeton where she posted a 2.8 assist-to-turnover ratio, fans will see her orchestrating the offense from the first tip.
Meanwhile, Aaliyah Edwards joins the Connecticut Sun — a franchise that thrives on two-way versatility. She enters the preseason after averaging 17.6 points and 9.2 rebounds in her final season at UConn. Her mid-range game and rebounding tenacity have already stood out against seasoned pros in early scrimmages.
Though the spotlight often gravitates toward rookies, players entering their second and third seasons are making just as big a statement. Take Dorka Juhász, entering her sophomore season with the Minnesota Lynx. After finishing 2024 among the top ten rookies in rebounds per game and field goal percentage, she’s now posting double-doubles and expanding her range.
Shakira Austin, coming back strong from injury in her third year with Washington, is operating with enhanced post moves and defensive switches. Her return adds further depth to the Mystics’ frontcourt and creates interesting challenges for opposing rookies like Brink and Edwards.
Expect these veterans to serve as benchmarks — the ones new players must climb over to claim minutes, respect, and influence within the league.
Track these duels as the preseason unfolds on DIRECTV. These aren’t just moments — they’re milestones in the making. Who captures momentum now will shape what happens deep into the regular season and beyond.
Production quality for WNBA games has entered a new phase, driven by strategic alignments with media powerhouses like DIRECTV. Through its alliance with the WNBA and ongoing collaboration with the NBA’s broadcast infrastructure, DIRECTV has elevated the viewing experience. Multi-camera angles, enhanced graphic overlays, in-depth analytics, and seamless studio integration aren't just technical upgrades—they’re reshaping how fans absorb the action.
These improvements result directly from shared assets and knowledge transfer between long-established NBA networks and growing WNBA broadcasting teams. DIRECTV, leveraging its NBA ties, applies seasoned sports coverage standards to every WNBA game, turning preseason matchups into nationally significant productions.
Distribution determines visibility. Recent WNBA media agreements—especially those involving DIRECTV—have expanded coverage far beyond niche time slots. With games featured on high-traffic DIRECTV channels and its digital streaming platforms, women’s basketball earns presence where viewership connects most effectively with content. This isn’t symbolic airtime; it’s prime-time exposure backed by analytics and marketing support.
The 2025 WNBA preseason lineup will air more consistently across DIRECTV Sports Network stations, offering real-time broadcast integration with interactive features such as in-game stats, player highlights, and instant social media shareability. These aren’t secondary streams—this is front-line programming backed by professionally optimized broadcasts.
Viewership habits evolve. DIRECTV is responding not reactively, but algorithmically. With comprehensive watch data, it’s identifying when, how, and why fans tune in. As a result, programming schedules are shifting toward viewer-centric patches: Sunday afternoon blocks, weeknight doubleheaders, and easy-to-navigate rewatch options.
Dig into how you personally consume sports now. More live streams? Highlights on social media? DIRECTV’s data-backed programming strategy validates those preferences and delivers accordingly, without diminishing match quality or access.
In 2025, DIRECTV is expanding its reach beyond traditional living room setups. Viewers can stream the WNBA preseason live through DIRECTV STREAM, compatible with smart TVs, smartphones, tablets, desktops, and even gaming consoles. This multi-platform accessibility ensures fans connect with live games and on-demand replays whether they’re commuting, traveling, or multitasking through a busy day.
Closed captioning, alternate-language commentary tracks, and high-contrast display interfaces have become baseline standards across DIRECTV's offerings. For fans with visual or auditory impairments, these features open up real-time access to play-by-play coverage and in-game commentary without friction.
DIRECTV has introduced tiered packages that put fans closer to the action. High-tier subscribers receive:
Subscribers using DIRECTV STREAM also benefit from flexible rewatch options, game bookmarking, and quick-skip highlight buttons—an intelligent viewing experience that goes beyond passive watching.
In 2025, every dunk, clutch shot, or buzzer-beater instantaneously hits social feeds. DIRECTV’s streamlined integration with platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok delivers highlights seconds after they happen, complete with auto-captioning and player stats.
Viewers post live reactions through their own DIRECTV interface, creating a synchronized second-screen experience. Fans can:
This isn’t just watching—it’s broadcasting, reacting, and shaping the conversation as it unfolds. DIRECTV turns preseason into full-season anticipation, powered by fans who do more than just tune in—they participate.
Viewership of the WNBA has moved beyond niche appeal into nationwide relevance. The 2023 WNBA regular season drew an average of 505,000 viewers per game on ESPN platforms, marking a 21% increase over 2022. This growth extended into the playoffs, where ESPN reported a 36% increase in total viewership year-over-year. These aren’t isolated spikes—they’re the outcome of persistent audience expansion across multiple seasons.
Linear broadcasts coupled with seamless digital access through platforms like DIRECTV have redefined how fans find and follow the game. When every screen becomes a window into elite competition, visibility multiplies. DIRECTV's integrated platform strategy, which blends traditional cable with app-based streaming, enables broader reach across markets that were previously underserved or overlooked. This shift has collapsed the barriers between casual observers and loyal fans.
The WNBA’s media strategy leans into tactics that built the NBA’s global dominance. Streaming multiple camera angles, real-time stats, exclusive content, and targeted highlights—these assets keep fans engaged and returning. Cross-promotion between the NBA and WNBA on social media and shared network partnerships, particularly with platforms like ESPN and ABC, deepens the audience pool. In 2023, cross-league campaigns featuring players like Breanna Stewart and Steph Curry increased social media engagement by double digits during peak game windows.
The numbers prove it. The infrastructure supports it. And the momentum isn’t fading—it’s accelerating with every pass, dunk, and buzzer-beater that airs on screens nationwide.
The 2025 WNBA preseason isn’t just a lead-up to the main event—it’s where storylines ignite, rivalries take shape, and new faces step into the national spotlight. DIRECTV gives you front-row access to every moment, whether you’re tracking emerging talent, following your favorite franchise, or discovering the league for the first time.
Don’t just watch history unfold. Be part of it. By tuning in, sharing your experiences, and championing the growth of women’s professional basketball, you amplify the momentum the league has worked relentlessly to build. Every view counts. Every game streamed fuels future seasons. Every fan watching helps push women’s sports into greater prominence.
It’s not just another preseason. It’s a turning point you’ll want to witness from day one. DIRECTV delivers every angle, every buzzer-beater, and every breakout moment.
Catch the future of women’s basketball unfold—only on DIRECTV. Follow your favorite rising stars, relive historic moments, and experience the excitement of the 2025 WNBA preseason like never before.
©2025 American TV. All Rights Reserved
Disclaimer: All rights reserved. AmericanTV.com is a website for research and comparison as such, falls under "Fair Use". AmericanTV.com does not provide directly phone, TV, and internet service. All trademarks, logos, etc. remain the property of their respective owners and are used by AmericanTV.com only to describe products and services offered by each respective trademark holder. The use of any third party trademarks on this site in no way indicates any relationship between AmericanTV.com and the holders of said trademarks, nor any endorsement of AmericanTV.com by the holders of said trademarks.
We are here 24/7 to answer all of your TV + Internet Questions:
1-855-690-9884
1-855-690-9884