KATSEYE's "WILD" Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200, Scoring Best Girl Group Week in 17 Years Amid Two Members' Uncertain Status
KATSEYE's new EP "WILD" debuted atop the Billboard 200 with 170,000 album-equivalent units, marking the best first week for a girl group since Danity Kane in 2008 — a milestone reached while two members of the group were away for health reasons.
One chart-topping debut, two empty spots. That's the number KATSEYE's new EP "WILD" pulled off — without the full lineup present. That contradiction is the starting point for understanding this record.
According to Billboard, citing Luminate, "WILD" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 170,000 equivalent album units in the week ending August 20 — the best first-week showing for a girl group since Danity Kane's "Welcome to the Dollhouse" (236,000 units) in 2008. In the years between, BLACKPINK's "Born Pink" (2022), NewJeans' "Get Up" (2023), and TWICE's "With YOU-th" (2024) all posted strong debut weeks, but none matched the scale of "WILD."
Breaking down that 170,000 figure reveals an even more interesting picture: pure album sales accounted for 145,000 units, driven by more than 30 different CD and vinyl variants — collector's editions, bonus tracks, and everything in between. Buyers weren't just picking up an album; they were buying into a full collecting experience. Streaming-equivalent album units (SEA), by contrast, came in at just 24,500 — a notably small share, showing that this No. 1 was carried almost entirely by physical sales.
Even as the numbers shine, the group itself is in an unsettled place. Member Manon Bannerman has been on hiatus since February 2026, and little is known publicly about whether she'll return or step away for good — though she still appears in KATSEYE's recently released documentary, "KATSEYE: Wild Hearts." More recently, member Sophia Laforteza and the group announced via Weverse that she would be "taking dedicated time to rest and continue care to ensure a full recovery." Laforteza also shared a message on her own social media: "This wasn't an easy decision, but I'm learning that health has to come first. I realized that if I don't take care of myself — mentally and physically — right now, I won't be able to keep doing what I love for the long run."
Even so, KATSEYE's sold-out tour is still set to kick off as planned on September 1. On one side: a No. 1 debut and record-breaking sales. On the other: absent members and a health disclosure. "WILD"'s success was won squarely in that gap.
