Part 3/8:
However, while the early ratings were promising, skepticism remained regarding Unrivaled's ability to challenge the WNBA significantly. Though it generated interest, it wasn’t enough to indicate that the league could leverage any competitive advantages concerning player contracts or marketing deals, especially during Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations.
Subsequent Ratings Collapse
The real test for Unrivaled came in the days following its debut. Initial viewer numbers, which were robust at around 300,000 for the two opening games, saw a sharp decline over the weekend. By Saturday afternoon, viewership had plunged to a concerning 110,000. This staggering drop led analysts to question the league's long-term viability.