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Bill Burr praises the WNBA after first game
William Frederic Burr, known professionally as Bill Burr, praised the Women’s National Basketball Association during the October 14, 2026, episode of Pardon My Take. The comedian described enjoying his first WNBA game in person.
Burr spoke with hosts Big Cat and PFT Commenter about professional women’s basketball. His favorable assessment contrasted with remarks he made in an earlier comedy special, when he questioned the league’s public support.
zimmytws/DepositphotosBill Burr attended with his daughter
Bill Burr said he took his daughter to his first WNBA game before describing the outing on Pardon My Take. He called the experience a great time and spoke favorably about attending.
The comedian mentioned his daughter while explaining why he went to the arena. Burr did not identify the specific matchup during that discussion, concentrating instead on what he saw during live play.
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Bill Burr praised the players’ warmups
Bill Burr praised the accuracy he saw during warmups at his first WNBA game. He said the pregame routine looked like the one he had watched before National Basketball Association games.
He questioned why both teams continued attempting three-pointers despite a slow opening quarter. Burr suggested taking a closer look at layups and midrange attempts, rather than relying so heavily on long-distance scoring.
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Bill Burr noticed less flopping
Bill Burr said he enjoyed seeing what he considered less flopping during his WNBA visit. The basketball term describes players exaggerating contact in hopes of persuading officials to call a foul.
His comment reflected a personal comparison with the men’s professional game, not measured data about either league. Burr placed the observation among his reasons for enjoying the competition and its physical approach.
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Angel Reese’s celebration impressed Burr
Bill Burr singled out Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese after describing her wave goodbye to an eliminated playoff opponent. He said the moment showed the personality he enjoyed seeing during professional basketball.
Burr compared Reese to a wrestling heel, the character audiences are encouraged to oppose. He found her response entertaining because it followed a playoff victory, rather than focusing on her individual scoring totals.
Mlmattes/DepositphotosBill Burr questioned WNBA support in 2022
Bill Burr criticized support for the WNBA in his 2022 Netflix stand-up special, Live at Red Rocks. He joked that games were being played before crowds of 300 to 400 people and questioned whether enough women were attending.
During the routine, Burr challenged audience members to name 5 leading WNBA players, 5 WNBA teams and the WNBA team in their city. His crowd estimate was part of a comedy routine, not verified league attendance data.
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Bill Burr watched a full game on television
Bill Burr said his interest continued after visiting a WNBA arena. On the October 14 podcast, he explained that he watches games when he encounters them while changing channels on television.
The comedian also recalled watching an entire WNBA game the previous night. That statement showed his interest extended beyond the playoff outing, without claiming he follows every team or regularly schedules broadcasts.
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WNBA attendance hit 3.8 million in 2026
The WNBA recorded 3.8 million spectators across 330 regular-season games in 2026. Average crowds reached 11,474 per contest, exceeding the previous league record from 2025 by 21% across the expanded schedule.
The league also reported 212 sellouts, representing 64% of its regular-season schedule. Four franchises sold out every home game, showing that full arenas extended beyond one particularly popular team or matchup.
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WNBA broadcasts reached record audiences
More than 90 million unique viewers watched WNBA coverage across national networks during the 2026 regular season. A record 51 telecasts averaged at least 1 million viewers, compared with 19 in 2025.
Fans spent more than 320 million hours watching league coverage that season. An August 23 Chicago Sky versus Indiana Fever game averaged 3.31 million viewers across NBC and Peacock, the year’s largest audience.
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WNBA social views reached 4 billion
WNBA social media accounts generated 4 billion views during the 2026 regular season, up 28% from 2025. The league also attracted more than 1 million new followers across its platforms.
Combined social media followers exceeded 11.4 million, while the official WNBA app recorded more than 700,000 downloads. The league measured a separate 24% increase in engagement compared with the previous season.
Fun fact: The WNBA has a fashion-loving mascot. New York Liberty’s Ellie the Elephant attended New York Fashion Week wearing a floor-length violet sequin gown and crimson coat.
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Angel Reese set rebounding records
Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese led the WNBA with 12.1 rebounds per game in 2026. Her 521 total boards established a new league record, alongside another single-season mark of 32 double-doubles.
Reese received the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award on October 1, earning 46 votes from 74 sportswriters and broadcasters. She became the first Atlanta Dream player to win the honor.
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Golden State and Atlanta reached the Finals
The Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream reached the 2026 WNBA Finals after sweeping their semifinal series. The Valkyries finished 32-12 in the regular season, while the Dream matched their franchise-best 30-14 record.
Neither club had previously won a WNBA championship. The Valkyries reached their first Finals during their second season, while the Dream returned after three earlier appearances in 2010, 2011 and 2013.
Angel Reese has spoken about the support she receives from her mother and what it means to her. Explore how their close relationship has shaped Reese’s journey in basketball and beyond.
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WNBA Finals ticket prices set a record
TickPick data released ahead of Game 1 placed the average purchase price for the 2026 WNBA Finals opener at $355. The reported get-in price was $195, compared with $23 for the 2025 opener.
The difference represented a 748% increase in the get-in price. Golden State hosted Atlanta at Chase Center on October 17, with NBC and Peacock carrying the game at 3:30 p.m. ET. The Valkyries defeated the Dream 68-64.
The Atlanta Dream faced an unexpected venue setback before the championship series, adding another challenge to their preparations. Explore how the situation affected Angel Reese and her team ahead of the WNBA Finals.
Bill Burr changed his opinion of the WNBA after watching a game in person. Have you ever changed your mind about a sport after seeing it live? share your thoughts in the comments below!
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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