March Madness brought the chaos — but what came after might just redefine American sports. From JuJu Watkins’ heartbreak exit to Paige Bueckers’ title-winning brilliance, the women’s game wasn’t just electric — it was era-shifting. Now, as Bueckers headlines a stacked WNBA class, one ESPN analyst says the quiet part out loud: the old giants — NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL — are fading. Their fans? “Getting old and dying.” The future? It’s bold, it’s booming, and it’s wearing a W.

The analyst in question? Elle Duncan shared these striking views in a conversation with Chiney Ogwumike on an episode of Uninterrupted before the Women’s Final Four in Tampa, Florida. Duncan pointed to surging viewership numbers and shifting audience demographics as proof that women’s sports aren’t just having a moment — they’re building a movement.

She reflected on the previous year’s women’s NCAA basketball national championship, which drew 19 million viewers (18.7 million), exceeding all expectations. “I think last year was a bit of lightning in a bottle with Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, and some of these really big names and storylines, I think none of us anticipated that we would see 19 million viewers in the national championship this year but when we look at 2023 which is sort of the year that they’re looking at in comparison to growth and to see if this is sustainable growth and not just a moment,” she said, acknowledging the sport’s mainstream rise. And even bigger, the women’s NCAA championship game last year gained more television numbers than the men’s title game for the first time, thanks to stars like Caitlin Clark!

But Duncan emphasized that this wasn’t just a fluke, pointing to a 40%-70% growth in viewership. However, what she said next was something that could spark a lot of debate: “All of these other groups are facing an existential crisis because their fanbases are getting old and dying — and that is not hyperbolic. They are. And our fanbase is young, they’re women, and they’re loyal,” she remarked.

Well, according to Sports Business Journal, 56% of the NBA’s fans were under 44 years old during the 2022-23 season, with 40% identifying as non-white. The NHL had the second-youngest fanbase, with 54% under age 44, while MLB’s audience was the second-most diverse, at 39%.

However, Duncan’s choice to use 2023 as a baseline for her claims, “But when we look at 2023, which is sort of the year that they’re looking at in comparison to growth and to see if this is sustainable growth and not just a moment, our numbers are up 40, 60, 70%.” But this introduces some intriguing contradictions. If Duncan was referring to the NFL, NHL, MLB, and NBA, then her assertion that the NBA is in decline doesn’t quite add up. Yes, the NBA saw a slight 2% dip in national viewership in the first half of the 2023-2024 season, but after that, the league experienced a remarkable rebound.

In February, viewership surged by 33%, averaging 1.6 million viewers per game (Front Office Sports). March’s viewership saw a 7% increase, reaching 1.68 million viewers per game (Sports Media Watch). And, as a cherry on top, the Celtics vs. Lakers game drew in 4.61 million viewers, making it the highest-rated non-Christmas regular season game in seven years (Sports Media Watch). The NBA appears far from declining.

Meanwhile, the NFL continues to dominate. The 2024 NFL season shattered records once again, averaging an impressive 17.5 million viewers per game, only experiencing a slight 2% dip from the record-breaking 2023 season (Front Office Sports). The NFL remains the gold standard of American television, holding the top TV ratings across every genre.

When it comes to MLB, the picture isn’t as bright. Taking 2023 as the baseline, as Duncan did for the WNBA, the signs aren’t that troubling. In 2024, paid attendance reached 71.35 million, a modest increase of 0.85% from the previous year (Front Office Sports).

As for the NHL, it’s been a challenging season. According to Braylon Breeze on X, the 2024-2025 NHL season has seen a 14% decline in viewership across national broadcasts, with networks like ESPN (-29%) and TNT (-24%) facing significant drops. Without the addition of more ABC windows, viewership would be down 38% compared to last year. But beyond all of these, the analyst might have to take back her 19 million women NCAA championship claim as 2025 numbers are down to half, that is, 8.4 million! So it is still individual brilliance over league uprising?

In the end, the ESPN analyst’s sweeping claim about the demise of major sports leagues doesn’t tell the full story.

WNBA’s Turning Point: Rising Fans, Big Deals, Bigger Stakes

While the NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL certainly face generational shifts and changing media landscapes, their viewership metrics remain strong. The WNBA, on the other hand, is undoubtedly trending upward—but it’s not quite time to declare it the dominant force in American sports just yet. The competition is heating up, but there’s no clear champion in sight.

Financially, though, the WNBA is poised for a breakthrough. As reported by Forbes, the league recently secured an 11-year, $2.2 billion media rights deal, averaging about $200 million annually, nearly four times its previous contract. This revenue surge is expected to fuel salary growth, infrastructure development, and long-anticipated expansion plans, with the league aiming to grow from 12 to 16 teams by 2028.

However, the WNBA isn’t in the clear yet. According to TheRichest.com, the league incurred a $40 million loss in 2024, underlining the urgency for a more sustainable financial model. But with increasing viewership, corporate sponsorships, and calculated investment, 2025 could be the turning point.

It’s also time for logistical reforms, particularly around the WNBA Draft schedule. Allowing NCAA athletes more than two or three weeks to declare and prepare for the draft would reflect a league evolving in professionalism and player empowerment.

As the WNBA continues to attract a broader, younger audience, its future looks increasingly bright—on the court and in the books.