WNBA Draft 2025: Ticket Prices and Fan Excitement Reach New Heights
Hey basketball fans, have you heard the buzz? The 2025 WNBA Draft is shaping up to be an event like no other, and if you’re planning to attend, you might want to brace yourself for a bit of sticker shock. This year, the demand for tickets has skyrocketed, and it’s reflected in the prices. For the second year in a row, the draft will be a seated event with fans in attendance, and the excitement is palpable.
So, what’s the cost of being part of this thrilling experience? Well, the lowest-tier general admission ticket for the 2025 draft, which will be held at The Shed at Hudson Yards in New York City, is priced at $99 on Ticketmaster. To put that into perspective, a similar ticket for last year’s event, when stars Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese were drafted at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, was just $49.99. And guess what? General admission tickets are already sold out, according to the league.
But don’t worry if you missed out on those tickets. The WNBA is offering premium ticket packages that include reserved seating and special access to draft night events. Some of these packages even offer access to the orange carpet that the draftees walk down. However, these are selling fast too. As of Friday afternoon, only the lowest-level “draftee” ticket package, priced at $299 per person, was still available.
Why all the excitement, you ask? Well, UConn star Paige Bueckers is expected to be the top pick in the draft this year, and fans are eager to witness this momentous occasion. The buzz around this year’s draft is a stark contrast to the 2023 WNBA draft, which hosted no fans and was open only to draftees, their families, and league sponsors. It’s also a continuation of the growing interest in women’s basketball.
Consider this: The women’s championship game between UConn and South Carolina averaged 8.5 million viewers, making it the third-biggest audience since ESPN began carrying the tournament in 1996. That’s a testament to the increasing popularity of women’s basketball.
Jess Smith, president of the expansion Golden State Valkyries, shared her thoughts with ESPN earlier this year. She noted a significant increase in fan interest in the college game and its prospects. “People follow superstars and follow talent, right? And the household names that now exist within women’s sports, and specifically in women’s basketball and the NCAA tournament, there’s people that are coming up to me talking about the freshman class,” Smith said. “And the fact that those are the questions being asked right now really point to such an incredible future of that continued growth in viewership and attendance.”
It’s not just the draft that’s seeing a surge in interest. According to Vivid Seats, WNBA ticket prices have increased by 50% this season, rising from an average of $135 to $203. Clearly, fans are eager to be part of the action.
As for the draft itself, the Dallas Wings hold the first pick in this year’s draft, which will air on Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. So, whether you’re attending in person or watching from home, get ready for an exciting night of basketball.
- General admission tickets: Sold out
- Lowest-tier general admission ticket price: $99
- Premium ticket packages: Almost sold out
- Lowest-level “draftee” ticket package: $299
- WNBA ticket price increase: 50%
With all this excitement, it’s clear that the WNBA is on the rise, and fans are more engaged than ever. So, mark your calendars and get ready to witness history in the making!
Originally Written by: Michele Steele
