The WNBA has once again dominated the global sports landscape, securing the number one ranking for online search growth in the Redtorch SportOnSocial Global Sports Properties 2026 report. The findings, released on February 24, 2026, underscore a massive shift toward women’s sports and innovative, digitally native formats.
WNBA: Beyond the “Caitlin Clark” Effect
Despite star athlete Caitlin Clark missing significant time due to injury in 2025, the WNBA proved its growth is now systemic rather than personality-driven.
- Search Growth: The league achieved a staggering 140% increase in global online searches.
- Commercial Metrics: 2025 TV viewership rose 21% year-over-year, while game attendance shattered a 37-year record.
- Women’s Sport Dominance: Reflecting a 4-year trend, 9 out of the top 10 fastest-growing properties in the report are women’s or mixed-gender sports.
The Rise of Innovation-Led Formats
The report highlights that younger audiences are pivoting toward fast-paced, “clippable,” and short-form competition.
| Property | Search Growth (%) | Key Driver |
| WNBA | +140% | Sustained relevance & structural growth |
| FIA World Endurance Champ. | +108% | Short-form content & digital accessibility |
| Ultimate Tennis Showdown | +106% | Innovative, fast-paced format |
| SailGP | +84% | Global distribution (215M viewers) |
Combat Sports and Streaming Scale
Combat sports are regaining cultural momentum by moving away from traditional PPV models toward “always-on” streaming narratives.
- ONE Championship: Jumped 17 places to 5th overall in global search interest, fueled by its lucrative Amazon Prime Video partnership.
- UFC: Rose 21 places to rank 18th (and 6th overall in total volume), proving that massive demand remains for event-led, global platforms.
“Demand is now durable, rather than dependent on individual star moments. Audiences are gravitating towards formats that are fast-paced, short-form, and digitally native.”
— Jess Reus, Redtorch Head of Communications.