WNBA fans traditionally have faced multiple barriers commensurated by being a young league when compared to others like the NBA or NFL, compounded by the deep-seated effects of inequality in women’s sports. The WNBA app relaunch is first of its kind in women sports and a direct response to fan demand and investment. While some of the developments may exist for mens’ leagues, they have had years and millions more to make those platforms a reality. The WNBA has only been around for 27 years and built the same app level of standard in 6 months lead by an all-female leadership team.
By revamping the entire UX experience, app-exclusive content, and a plethora of streaming options; the WNBA mobile app transformed for the 2023 season as a foundational “one-stop-shop”.
Upon launching the app, every fan is given instant access to highlights, behind-the-scenes, off-the-court, and on-court content consumable in an Instagram or tik-tok like format. Fans can watch WNBA games on the app as the League partnered with Endeavor Streaming to relaunch their direct-to-consumer (D2C) OTT streaming platform, WNBA League Pass. Powered by Endeavor Streaming’s Vesper Platform, WNBA League Pass offers fans a high-quality streaming experience to watch various new short form content, and live/on-demand games.
Game schedule and standings have also been modernized. iPhone users can add live updates to games directly on their lock screens and real time stats are available for every app user. The platform includes a “No Spoilers” feature, which allows fans to hide stats and standings from previous games so they can watch on-demand content and still experience the thrill of seeing how a game plays out.
