The ideal entry-level account for individual users. The NBA is 75 years old, the WNBA 25. PALMETTO, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 06: The Seattle Storm celebrates after defeating the Las Vegas Aces [+] 92-59 in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals to win the Championship at Feld Entertainment Center on October 06, 2020 in Palmetto, Florida. 92-59 in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals to win the Championship at Feld Entertainment Center on October 06, 2020 in Palmetto, Florida. 5 seeded Washington Mystics and the 2022 WNBA leader in assists Natasha Cloud meet the fourth seeded Seattle Storm and the leagues leader in scoring Breanna Stewart on ESPN2 at 10 p.m. The WNBA Playoffs will feature a maximum of 19 games, all available across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and the ESPN App. The womens league now has a commissioner, Cathy Engelbert. U.S. Bank joined the leagues growing lineup of WNBA Changemakers, which include AT&T, Deloitte, Nike, and Google. The WNBA Draft, held Monday on ESPN, averaged 403,000 viewers, the network announced a 20% increase from last year's draft and the most since 2004. Candace Parker #3 of the Chicago Sky celebrates with her teammates after winning Game Four of the 2021 WNBA Finals against the Phoenix Mercury on October 17, 2021 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. Draft coverage peaked at about 463,000 viewers. Diana Taurasi is called the Michael Jordan of the WNBA. Ever heard of her? 2 Las Vegas Aces earned a double bye into the WNBA Semifinals (third round). Furthermore, the 2021 NCAA Womens Final Four pulled some of itshighest viewership numbersever. Los Angeles is the driving force behind MLB ratings this October, so the Dodgers advancing would. Recently, Draymond Green, one of those highly paid male players, poured a little gas on the fire by offering his opinions on the subject (in short, the women shouldnt complain). I think the social media engagement was so it was different than last year, it was more intense, everyone was more excited. The 2022 WNBA Playoffs presented by Google tips off on Wednesday, Aug. 17, when the No. You cant ask for anything better than to have a 15 percent increase (for the Finals) when the NBA Finals is down 49 percent.. Because of ESPNs commitment to the league and brands increasing desire to get involved with the leagues star players, online engagement with the WNBA continued to grow. The three-game series averaged 848,000 viewers. What percentage of WNBA viewers are female? The WNBA fails to generate even one percent of the NBA's $8-$9 billion in revenue. Additionally, the WNBA saw an increase in the opening weekend and postseason viewership last season while it alongside the NBA return to play, the NWSL Challenge Cup, and the NHL return to play. NEW YORK, Sept. 24, 2021 The WNBA capped off its historic 25th regular season by delivering its most-watched season since 2008 for its television partners ABC, CBS, ESPN and ESPN2 with viewership up 51% over the 2020 season, and by setting records for merchandise sales online and engagement across its social media platforms. During 2021 opening weekend, Sky-Mystics WNBA regular season game averaged a 0.39 rating and 611,000 viewers on ABC, and a rematch of that Storm-Aces final later that day averaged a 0.39 and 598,000 on ABC both securing a place in the top three records of the leagues largest regular season audience in nine years, at that time. The WNBA reached several milestones in its landmark season. The 2021 WNBA Finals on ESPN networks and ABC - Chicago Sky victory over the Phoenix Mercury - averaged 548,000 viewers across four games, a 23 percent increase from 2020 (447,000 average viewers . That parts crazy to me. It is the most-watched comedy debut on ABC in nearly four years. Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. The 2022 Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) regular season games were watched by an average of 379 thousand viewers across ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC. 2023 CNBC LLC. Across 17 games, the 2021 playoffs averaged 367,000 viewers, 63 per cent higher than the entire 2020 postseason (226,000 average viewers) and 42 per cent higher than 2019 (258,000 average. Also, the viewership on ESPN and ESPN2 increased 11% from 202,000 views last season to 224,000. And the entire Finals series averaged 548,000 viewers, making it also the most watched since 2017. The athletes are your vehicles to their fans, if you can get the league and their athletes to retweet, reshare, comment or like your content, their fans will follow suit.. Click the logo and sign up for access to the ESPN Images Library. The share the percentage of households with. All 17. And that's across the league's four television-network partners ABC, ESPN, NBA TV, TNT and the highest average since the NBA's 2013-14 season. As soon as this statistic is updated, you will immediately be notified via e-mail. For the 2021 season, the WNBA's combined viewership averaged 306,000 viewers. Washington out shot Anaheim by a total of 39-23 and went 0-3 on the power play in the game. Revenues, of course, are not to be confused with profits. Show publisher information September 21, 2022. Here's the "Sunday Night Football" viewership so far this season: Week 1: Bears-Rams, 17.64 million Week 2: Chiefs-Ravens, 19.81 million Week 3: Packers-49ers, 19.69 million Week 4:. Yesterday was a historic day for the @WNBA @nikebasketball released 3new designs for each team and the reveal ERUPTED on social media There were over 17K posts, 646K engagements, and 69 MILLION impressions about the drop Which one is your fave?#WNBA pic.twitter.com/kmj2uNzu0j. The St. Louis Blues are averaging 3.05 goals per game, 3.64 goals against per game, 20.7% on the power play, and 76.7% on the penalty kill. As a Premium user you get access to the detailed source references and background information about this statistic. The NBA opened the 2020-21 season to a strong start after enjoying the most-watched opening week since 2012, with combined viewership up 67% compared to last year. The WNBA is 50 years behind in building its brand and working out labor issues. MPG Minutes Per Game . Monday's Game 2 of the ALCS drew 1.88 million . The St. Louis Blues are 27-29-5 this season after they defeated the San Jose Sharks by a score of 6-3 in their last game. Said Lewis: We all know the WNBAs numbers still dont compare, but when youre talking about a period of time when every sport is still having trouble in the ratings and you can say not only that your numbers were up but that they were up double digits, thats a pretty decent story for them.. On the surface, it appears that the women have little argument there is no comparison between NBA and WNBA revenues but first lets understand what WNBA players want. ESPN said the 2021 WNBA Finals between the Chicago Sky and Phoenix Mercury attracted an average of 548,000 viewers throughout four games. [Online]. Well, either way, its a tough sell for a league that cant turn a profit and survives on handouts from the NBA. Official Release The 2021 Finals are the most viewed since the 2017 Finals between the LA Sparks and the Minnesota Lynx, which registered 563,000 viewers. The NBA's sponsorship revenue is about 100x the WNBA's; the NBA's cable viewership is 88x the WNBA's; and the . I just really hope that this is the beginning and there's no backtracking. The latter doesnt produce the same revenues or interest as the mens game (quick, name five of the best LPGA players). Strong Regular Season Growth In particular, the deciding Game 3 of the Finals fit perfectly the formula that Lewis has observed tends to serve up the best ratings for the league. 2 seeded Chicago Sky and the reigning Finals MVP Kahleah Copper begin their defense of the WNBA title at home against the seventh seeded New York Liberty and All-Stars Sabrina Ionescu and Natasha Howard on ESPN2 at 8 p.m. WNBA Moments on Top Shot gave fans the ability to own dynamic in-game moments from WNBA players and legends. A bigger cut for the players means higher subsidies from their benefactor. This may not be a world title match like some viewers hoped, but Cody Rhodes seems destined to topple The Tribal Chief. Register in seconds and access exclusive features. Are you interested in testing our business solutions? Dont just show up for the big moments because WNBA fans and their athletes know this. Overview and forecasts on trending topics, Industry and market insights and forecasts, Key figures and rankings about companies and products, Consumer and brand insights and preferences in various industries, Detailed information about political and social topics, All key figures about countries and regions, Market forecast and expert KPIs for 600+ segments in 150+ countries, Insights on consumer attitudes and behavior worldwide, Business information on 60m+ public and private companies, Detailed information for 35,000+ online stores and marketplaces. ET, followed by the eighth seeded Phoenix Mercury and the teams leading rebounder Brianna Turner taking on the No. New York Liberty (No. The league headed into the 26th season by announcing its $75 million capital raise to fuel investment in the long-term transformation of the league. Half of that 66% are Black males despite the fact that black men make up around 7% of the US population as a whole. WHAT a @WNBA season State of League . According to The Athletic, the 2022 WNBA All-Star Game peaked at 768,000 viewers. It was the first WNBA game post All-Star Game and Olympic break airing in the afternoon on ABC. Also viewership for the seasons opening weekend rose 325% in Canada. Interest in womens basketball is on the rise. As a Premium user you get access to the detailed source references and background information about this statistic. The NBAs average ticket price is variously reported at between $51 to $89; the WNBAs $17. St. Louis was out shot by a total of 25-23 and went 2-3 on the power play in the win. 1 overall pick in the WNBA draft Saturday, April 17, 2004, in Secaucus, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun), The Early Returns Of Kevin Durant In The Phoenix Suns Offense, Bayern Munich Remain First But Must Switch Off Complacency Ahead Of PSG Fixture, New England Patriots Reportedly Set To Release Brian Hoyer, Leaving Two In The Quarterback Room, Liverpool Legend Roberto Firmino Reportedly Offers Himself To FC Barcelona, Brock Lesnar Reportedly Finishing Up Current WWE Run, Xavi Speaks On FC Barcelonas Defensive Masterclass Against Real Madrid Ahead Of Valencia Clash, Manchester City Ready To Sell Bernardo Silva To FC Barcelona And Name Asking Price - Reports, FC Barcelona And Real Madrid Presidents Met To Discuss European Super League Strategy Before El Clasico - Reports, most-watched NCAA Tournament game in 10 years. The highest-rated game in the WNBA's 25th anniversary season: an Aug. 15 contest between the Sky and Storm. In addition, DICKS Sporting Goods became the largest national retailer for WNBA merchandise. Four other ABC telecasts this season became most-viewed regular season games since 2012: ESPN has been a WNBA rights-holder since the leagues inception 25 years ago and has a multi-platform rights agreement through 2025. NBA players receive around 50% of shared revenue within their league, whereas we receive around 20%.. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. That likely gives the WNBA a roadmap forward and helps create a proof of concept for a league that is engaged politically and socially while remaining popular among sports fans. WNBA fans are between 2 to 6.6 times more likely than an average sports fan to be interested in politics and especially womens rights, said Niky Scott, a customer success manager at Zoomph. "Average TV viewers of the WNBA regular season from 2016 to 2022 (in 1,000s)." For many American viewers, the WBC will serve as an introduction to the top talents of other leagues . And the 2021 WNBA Finals Game 2 was the most watched Game 2 since 2003, peaking with 1 million viewers. Plum notes the difference in narratives between the two leagues. 2), the Las Vegas Aces (No. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1236723/wnba-regular-season-viewers/, Average TV viewers of the WNBA regular season from 2016 to 2022, Available to download in PNG, PDF, XLS format, Average franchise value in major U.S. sports leagues 2007-2020, Average franchise value of National Basketball Association teams 2001-2022, Total revenue of the National Basketball Association 2001-2022, Teams of the NBA ranked by revenue 2021/22, NBA league & teams sponsorship revenue 2010-2022, Average operating income of National Basketball Association teams 2001-2022, Operating income of National Basketball Association franchises in 2022, NBA Finals TV viewership in the U.S. 2000-2022, NBA Finals TV ratings in the U.S. 2002-2022, Average U.S. TV ratings of NBA Finals 2022, Average viewers of the NBA Finals in the U.S. 2022, Total attendance at National Basketball Association regular season games 2006-2022, NBA regular season home attendance by team 2021/22, Average per game attendance in the NBA from 2005-2022, NBA regular season average home attendance by team 2021/22, Construction costs of NBA stadiums/arenas built since 2000, Federal subsidy to NBA stadiums built since 2002, NBA interest level in the U.S. 2022, by ethnicity, National Basketball Association (NBA) interest levels worldwide 2021, NBA number of Facebook fans/Twitter followers 2012-2022, National Basketball Association salary cap 2012-2023, Minimum player salary per year in NBA 2017-2024, Average player expenses of National Basketball Association teams 2001-2022, Player expenses in the NBA by team in 2022, National Basketball Association highest-paid players in salaries & endorsements 2023, National Basketball Association all-time rebounding leaders 1946-2022, National Basketball Association all-time minutes leaders 1946-2022, Regular season attendance WNBA games 2022, Average U.S. TV ratings of NBA playoffs 2018, Average U.S. TV ratings selected NBA games 2018, NCAA basketball March Madness TV viewership selected games 2013, NCAA basketball March Madness TV viewership selected games 2014, Average NCAA football TV viewership by conference, Average NCAA basketball TV viewership by conference 2011, Super Bowl viewers in the U.S. 2017-2023, by platform, Distribution of NBA television audience during 2012-2013 regular season, by income, Distribution of NBA regular season TV audience 2014, by ethnicity, Age breakdown of NBA TV audience during 2013 regular season, Average TV viewership of selected NCAA football games 2017, Gender breakdown of NBA television audience in 2013 regular season, Women's World Cup viewership in the U.S. 2015, Women's World Cup viewership habits in the U.S. 2019, Number of Adult Swim viewers in the U.S. 2014-2021, Most common online methods of finding TV shows Australia 2017, Average TV viewers of the WNBA regular season from 2016 to 2022 (in 1,000s), Find your information in our database containing over 20,000 reports. In comparison, last October's three-game WNBA Finals series featuring the Seattle Storm and Las Vegas Aces averaged 440,000 viewers. Game 2 (Oct. 13, ESPN) became the most-viewed Game 2 since 2003 and the most-viewed Finals game since 2017s Game 5. I cover the Phoenix Suns as well as the broader NBA and WNBA, PALMETTO, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 02: Breanna Stewart, #30 of the Seattle Storm drives to the basket against A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces during the first half of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals at Feld Entertainment Center on October 02, 2020 in Palmetto, Florida. That is a 49% increase compared to 2020 and 24% increase to 2019. Business Solutions including all features. Each of Wilson, Stewart and Bird generated more than $600,000 in social value this season, in large part because they were some of the most active athletes on the platform when it came to sharing content from other brands and personalities. 5) followed Sabrina on the list of top five most popular jerseys. Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi (3) shoots between Minnesota Lynx forwards Damiris Dantas (12) and Napheesa Collier (24) during an WNBA playoff basketball game on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020, in Bradenton, Fla. WNBA players have contended for some time that their pay is unfair, that they deserve something closer to what their male counterparts in the NBA are paid. I just wanted to reiterate that data point. Few basketball fans were tuned in to see Peddys shot. Washington Nationals vs Houston Astros was the most-watched MLB game of the 2019 season. 1 June 2021 Sam Carp News SHARE THIS ARTICLE. According to WNBA statistics, 75 percent of the fans in attendance at a WNBA game are female. The Seattle Storm vs. Chicago Sky game on Aug. 15, broadcast . Which was a drop of 16% on the previous year. How about how many people were willing to leave the comfort of their homes and hit the arena? The WNBA Playoffs will feature a maximum of 27 games, all available across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, the ESPN App and NBA TV. Digital: A record was set for the traffic the WNBA site saw online. You only have access to basic statistics. The Nielson-measured average total viewers for national telecasts of NBA games was up 8% from the 2016-17 season at 1.28 million. Would you be willing to send a $5 tip to our Venmo tip jar because it helps support our reporting? Please do not hesitate to contact me. For specifically the WNBA Finals in 2021, the first game of the series (Chicago Sky vs. Phoenix Mercury) peaked with 547,000 viewers, making it the most-viewed opening game of the Finals since 2017. (May 26, 2022). Game 2 was the most watched Game 2 since 2003, peaking with 1 million viewers. All year, league executives were gratified that ESPN agreed to increase its investment in the league and air a record 37 games across its networks, about three times its typical WNBA slate. Atlanta Dream Team Store; . That number was up 18% year over year, according to ESPN, despite the competition. Well reveal WNBA viewership by year. And the 2021 WNBA Finals winners, the Chicago Sky, sold more merchandise on Fanatics since their WNBA title win over just two days than any other prior WNBA champ has sold in the first 30 days following a title victory. Directly accessible data for 170 industries from 50 countries and over 1 million facts: Get quick analyses with our professional research service. Twenty-five years ago, the National Basketball Association Board of Directors approved the Womens National Basketball Association. The BarDown Podcast. WNBA Stats and History Statistics, scores, and history for the Women's National Basketball Association. The WNBAs problem is simple: It doesnt generate the interest or the revenue to support a pay structure anywhere close to what the mens game can offer. The WNBA also welcomed Google as its newest WNBA Changemaker, joining AT&T, Deloitte and Nike and the tech company sponsored 25 games on ESPN as part of the partnership. You may opt-out by. An NBA basketball is two ounces heavier and an inch larger in circumference than a WNBA basketball. The WNBA reported a 51% increase in viewership over the regular season in 2020. The WNBAs Covid-disrupted 2020 regular season averaged 205,000 viewers across ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC. For the first time in league history, the WNBA used in-game wearables by KINEXON and optical tracking technology by Hawk-Eye to generate 3D immersive highlights, which were used in real time during Prime Videos broadcast of the inaugural WNBA Commissioners Cup Championship Game. The NBA and WNBA have little in common, other than they play the same sport. ESPN added 13 games to their 2020 broadcast slate after their opening weekend broadcast was up. How do you get that bias out of that valuation model? The Washington Capitals are averaging 3.02 goals per game, 2.97 goals against per game, 20.9% on the power play, and 82.4% on the penalty kill. Sky guard Kahleah Copper won the 2021 Finals MVP after averaging 17 points and 5.5 rebounds in the series. And though the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics did not [] In that same span, ratings fell 20 percent on ESPN. The league reported 387,000 average viewers last year, up 123 percent from 2019. Later in the season, the league also delivered its most-watched regular-season game since 2012, with ABC averaging 755,000 viewers for a matchup between the Seattle Storm and Chicago Sky on Aug. 15. Minnesota Lynxs Sylvia Fowles, in the final game of her illustrious career, became the first player in league history to log 4,000 career rebounds and Seattle Storms Sue Bird scored her 1,000. Please create an employee account to be able to mark statistics as favorites. The showdown recorded 789,000 viewers, peaking at a million for the primetime presentation. ESPN said on Thursday that the WNBA Finals averaged about 548,000 viewers per game, up 23% from last season and up 42% from 2019. The WNBA averaged 413,000 viewers in that year. But not womens basketball college or pro (according to the NCAA, the average attendance for college basketball for the 2018-19 season was 1,625 for Division I women and 5,650 for Division I men). The WNBA's Covid-disrupted 2020 regular season averaged 205,000 viewers across ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC. There was just more interest because everything has been more available, starting with the college games. We want to hear from you. However, the average viewership for the 2020 finals increased 15% to 440,000. This year, ESPNs 2021 WNBA schedule featured 24 regular season games, as well as the WNBA Playoffs and Finals, the WNBA All-Star Game, and the annual WNBA Draft. While the NBA had higher viewership numbers last summer, 68% of our fans watched the NBA versus 82% of them watching a regular-season WNBA game. WNBA games averaged 321,000 viewers across ESPN, ESPN2, ABC and CBS during the regular season, up 51% from last year and the league's most-watched season in 13 years. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Lynx and Phoenix Mercury mostly held steady. 4), and the Chicago Sky (No. Sunday's Game 1 of the ALCS on TBS drew 2.07 million viewers. Level of interest in WNBA in the United States as of May 2022, by gender [Graph]. And Game 2 of that series averaged 1.2 million viewers on ABC. WNBA NBA NBA G League NBA 2K League. Several college stars embarked on their WNBA journey today as all 12 teams officially opened training camp. Early metrics still showed spikes in WNBA viewership, with Game 1 racking up an average of 555,000 viewers for the most-viewed Finals' opener in five years. Ultimately, its a missed opportunity for the WNBA. In addition, DICKS Sporting Goods became the largest national retailer for WNBA merchandise, and Buzzer began featuring live content and WNBA League Pass games on its mobile platform in the companys first foray into womens professional sports. You cant ask for anything better than to have a 15 percent increase (for the Finals) when the NBA Finals is down 49 percent, John Lewis of Paulsen Sports Media Watch said last October. This represented the league's. We've been waiting for this kind of recognition for so many years. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set You need a Statista Account for unlimited access. You can only download this statistic as a Premium user. By this date in 2019, 15 college football games averaged at least a 3.0 ratings. Season Type Per Mode. This statistic is not included in your account. The 2003 championship featuring the Los Angeles Sparks and Detroit Shock remains the league's most-watch finals. So while television ratings were down 16 percent in the regular season, the league was pleased to simply be on more screens and in more minds during a blitz of sports in the late summer. Got a confidential news tip? It then followed up the news by announcing prior to the start of the season that U.S. Bank would become the newest member of the WNBA Changemakers, the leagues collective of purpose-driven companies that harness their power to elevate women in sports and support the leagues mission around advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion. The four-game Sky-Mercury WNBA Finals averaged 548,000 viewers across ABC, ESPN and ESPN2, marking the largest audience for the event since the five-game Lynx-Sparks series in 2017 (559K). Visit ESPN to view 2022 WNBA stat leaders. The introduction of the NWO brought a drastic shift in television viewership, fueling WCW to an unpredictable 83-week smackdown in the battle for ratings supremacy while breathing new life into . The Phoenix Mercury selected Diana Taurasi number one overall in 2004. Digging into just the ESPN family of networks, regular season games broadcast or streamed averaged 306,000 viewers per game in 2021. "Level of Interest in Wnba in The United States as of May 2022, by Gender. No, the NBA won't get axed. For example, according to 2019 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, unionized female employees earn 29% more than non-unionized female employees and unionized black employees earn 27% more than non-unionized black employees. Lets first take a look at the last two WNBA Drafts. Learn more about how Statista can support your business. Enjoying SportsPro content? statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account. 4), andBreanna Stewart(No. Chart. A multi-year deal with Amazon Prime Video made the WNBA the first womens professional sports league to be streamed on Prime Video. In 2021, there have been 24 telecasts, compared to 37 broadcasts in 2020 and 16 in 2019. Four players logged seven triple-doubles in the regular season. July's All-Star Game averaged 734,000 viewers, a 53% increase.. The late 90s and early 2000s had some of the highest regular season game best attendance averages to date. According to the WNBA, this is the most watched season since 2008. The ratings also represent a 63 percent increase from those in 2020. The first round then continues Thursday, Aug. 18, when the No. ET. Zoomph data shows the WNBA has a fan base that is nearly two times more female than average, which could mean more purchasing power than more male-centered sports, a strong sign for advertising.. Englebert reported the average viewership of games rose 68% this season, crediting that largely to a substantial increase in games on the ESPN Network as well as the league's debut on the CBS. Women's basketball has notched yet another viewership milestone this time at the pro level. In essence Black males are the main supporters of the WNBA, yet Layshia Clarendon decided to focus her anger towards them. The league also reached several milestones including new sponsors, merchandise, distribution, and technology. The 2021 NBA Playoffs overall (inclusive of Finals) averaged 4.25 million viewers across ABC, ESPN and TNT, up 35% vs. the 2020 postseason. The NBA has 30 teams, the WNBA 12. Black History Month: Emerging Leaders | Renee Montgomery: An Owner with a Players Perspective, WNBA Draft 2023 Presented By State Farm To Be Held On April 10th. @megsterr. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images). For the first time in league history, the WNBA used in-game wearables by KINEXON and optical tracking technology by Hawk-Eye to generate 3D immersive highlights, which were used in real time during Prime Videos broadcast of the inaugural WNBA Commissioners Cup Championship Game. The top two seeds the No. The mens league casts a big shadow, which is why the WNBA plays its season from July to October. The 2021 WNBA Finals on ESPN networks and ABC - Chicago Sky victory over the Phoenix Mercury - averaged 548,000 viewers across four games, a 23 percent increase from 2020 (447,000 average viewers in three games) and a 42 percent surge from 2019 (386,000 average viewers in five games). Moreover, as pundits debate whether a severely depressed sports viewership landscape is that way in part because of increased athlete activism, the WNBA perhaps more than any other league used the platform of its games to organize political and social movements among fans and viewers, and did not suffer.