The Women’s Basketball Tournament has grown tremendously since its’ start in the early 1980’s. Today the skyrocketing popularity means that in some years, more fans watch the women’s championship game on TV than some games of recent NBA finals. Enjoy the stats and attendance figures below. (You can find the men’s attendance figures here).
| Year | Location | Semifinal Attendance | Championship Game Attendance | Ticket APries | Media Credentials Distributed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Minneapolis | 18,268 | 18,304 | $100 to $300 | 848 |
| 2021 | San Antonio | 4,793* | 4,604* | Limited Attendance | 246* |
| 2020 | Canceled | ||||
| 2019 | Tampa Bay | 20,062 | 20,127 | $75 to $275 | 716 |
| 2018 | Columbus | 19,564 | 19,559 | $75 to $800 | 773 |
| 2017 | Dallas | 19,231 | 19,389 | $75 to $800 | 688 |
| 2016 | Indianapolis | 15,227 | 14,514 | $125 to $800 | 705 |
| 2015 | Tampa Bay | 19,730 | 19,810 | $125 to $800 | 623 |
| 2014 | Nashville | 17,548 | 17,548 | $125 to $200 | 520 |
| 2013 | New Orleans | 17,545 | 17,545 | $125 to $200 | 620 |
| 2012 | Denver | 19,028 | 19,028 | $125 to $185 | 570 |
| 2011 | Indianapolis | 16,421 | 17,473 | $175 | 482 |
| 2010 | San Antonio | 25,817 | 22,936 | $175 | 530 |
| 2009 | St. Louis | 18,621 | 18,478 | $162 | 557 |
| 2008 | Tampa Bay | 21,655 | 21,655 | $162 | 630 |
| 2007 | Cleveland | 20,704 | 20,704 | $142 | 589 |
| 2006 | Boston | 18,642 | 18,642 | $140 | 620 |
| 2005 | Indianapolis | 28,937 | 28,937 | $130 | 460 |
| 2004 | New Orleans | 18,211 | 18,211 | $130 | 423 |
| 2003 | Atlanta | 28,210 | 28,210 | $120 | 478 |
| 2002 | San Antonio | 29,619 | 29,619 | $90 & $120 | 403 |
| 2001 | St. Louis | 20,551 | 20,551 | $100 | 592 |
| 2000 | Philadelphia | 20,060 | 20,060 | $90 | 692 |
| 1999 | San Jose | 17,733 | 17,733 | $90 | 494 |
| 1998 | Kansas City | 17,976 | 17,976 | $75 | 491 |
| 1997 | Cincinnati | 16,714 | 16,714 | $75 | 637 |
| 1996 | Charlotte | 23,291 | 23,291 | $45 | 549 |
| 1995 | Minneapolis | 18,038 | 18,038 | $42 | 524 |
| 1994 | Richmond | 11,966 | 11,966 | $40 | 382 |
| 1993 | Atlanta | 16,141 | 16,141 | $31 & $36 | 148 |
| 1992 | Los Angeles | 12,421 | 12,072 | $30 & $36 | 300 |
| 1991 | New Orleans | 7,931 | 7,865 | $25 & $30 | 303 |
| 1990 | Knoxville | 19,467 | 20,023 | $12.50 & $15 | 285 |
| 1989 | Tacoma | 9,030 | 9,758 | $10 & $14 | 310 |
| 1988 | Tacoma | 8,719 | 8,448 | $9 & $14 | 271 |
| 1987 | Austin | 15,615 | 15,615 | $20 & $25 | 144 |
| 1986 | Lexington | 9,894 | $5,662 | $24 | 206 |
| 1985 | Austin | 7,648 | 7,597 | $16 & $20 | 126 |
| 1984 | Los Angeles | 6,172 | 5,365 | $10 & $12 | 148 |
| 1983 | Norfolk | 8,866 | 7,387 | $5 & $7 | 87 |
| 1982 | Norfolk | 6,000 | 9,531 | $5 & $7 | 37 |
Ratings for the Womens tournament vary from year to year but overall are growing. In 2023 an average of 9.92 million people watched the final between LSU and Iowa the most watched women’s college basketball game to date.
