From an average attendance of just 7,655 a decade ago, the WNBA is enjoying a growth phase like no other in its 30th anniversary year. The league’s average attendance mark now stands at 11473, per a report by the Sports Business Journal. This growth is driven by increased demand among fans and some teams, like the Atlanta Dream.
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The WNBA set an all-time attendance milestone in 2026, welcoming 3.79 million spectators across the season, according to an SBJ review of official box scores. This marks a 20% year-over-year jump from the previous year’s all-time high of 3.15 million fans, and was catalyzed 25 high-demand matchups to larger host arenas. Those relocated games brought in 388,997 total fans, averaging 15,743 per night, a 40% increase compared to games held at regular home courts.
For the 2026 season, the Dream witnessed the highest jump in average attendance, at 54%, due to their six-game relocation, and this number is expected to go up even further next season. Atlanta had an average attendance of 6,928 per game in 2026, with a total of 152,426 people attending their games, boasting an occupancy of 96%.
The Atlanta Dream played six regular-season games at the State Farm Arena this season, and it will be their permanent home starting in the 2027 season, as per a multi-year agreement they have announced. The Dream will also play their upcoming home games of the WNBA Finals at the State Farm Arena.
“The change of venue dramatically expands the seating capacity and ensures that the Dream will be able to provide an extraordinary atmosphere for the first WNBA Finals game to be played in the Atlanta market since 2013,” commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in an announcement.
Meanwhile, the Dream’s opponents, the Golden State Valkyries, continue leading the league in attendance metrics, with an average attendance of 18,064 per game and a staggering 397,408 attending the Valkyries’ home games.
The Valkyries are the team with the highest average occupancy in the league, boasting a 100% rate, the only team in the league to do so. The Valkyries have already set a WNBA record for most consecutive home game sellouts in the first two seasons of franchise history.
The majority of the teams witnessed growth in their attendance numbers, barring a few like the Washington Mystics and Chicago Sky, whose year-on-year average attendance in 2026 dipped by 16% and 9.2%, respectively.
Much like their fans, Angel Reese remains excited to play in their bigger arena in the Finals and the next season as well.
Angel Reese Hopeful Of The Fans “Showing Up” At The State Farm Arena
Now that it’s official that the Atlanta Dream will play game 3 of the Finals a day ahead of schedule on October 21 at the State Farm Arena only, Angel Reese couldn’t help but express her thoughts on the development.
“It’s a bittersweet moment. Because I do love Gateway so much, and I love the intimacy of being here and all the fans coming out and supporting us,” said Reese, as per WSBTV.
“And even if we couldn’t go to State Farm, I was going to be grateful to just be able to be here and have everybody here. We’ve probably had a big TV outside and everybody outside. It will be a whole cookout and a good time. But I am looking forward to everybody showing up and supporting us at State Farm because every game has had a great turnout.”
“Celebrities on the side, everybody coming in support. You don’t know who you’re going to see in Atlanta, so everybody always has fun.”
Reese’s words echo the excitement Engbert showed while saying that the league will be pleased to welcome thousands more who wish to experience the “ultimate WNBA action” during the Finals.
As always, Reese remains pumped for the tough matchups that await her and the Dream.
“I’m looking forward to it. I’m looking forward to being with this group and competing with this group…,” said Reese.
The Finals get underway in San Francisco on Saturday, with Game 1 tipping off at 3:30 p.m. ET.
The series is expected to be competitive, and there is still not too much clarity about Allisha Gray’s status, which, according to her, was “day-to-day.”
Following back-to-back franchise-best 30–14 regular seasons, the Dream have moved past last year’s first-round disappointment. This October, Atlanta dismantled a tough Mystics team and swept the Liberty in the semifinals. Heading into the Finals against Golden State, Atlanta’s star power may give them the edge against the Valkyries.
Regardless of the outcome, fans from both sides are looking forward to this series.