LAS VEGAS -- The opening game of the WNBA Finals was the most watched Game 1 since the league's inaugural season.
An average of 1.9 million viewers watched Las Vegas edge Phoenix 89-86 on Friday night, according to ESPN. That was up 62% from last season's matchup of New York and Minnesota.
The game peaked with 2.5 million viewers.
Only the 1997 championship, which was a winner-take-all single game, had more people watching.
Game 2 ratings weren't yet available.