The WNBA seems eager to convince everyone that fans are more interested in the league itself than in star player Caitlin Clark. However, the statistics tell a different story.
A clear example emerged recently when Clark and the Indiana Fever triumphed over the Toronto Tempo with a score of 113-91 on June 16 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. With a personal tally of 21 points and 14 assists, Clark not only delivered a strong performance but also drew a substantial audience to USA Network.
The game reportedly attracted 1 million viewers, marking the highest viewership for a WNBA game via cable or streaming this season. This is a significant figure for the WNBA, especially when considered within the context of its broadcasting platforms.
To clarify, this wasn’t an event on a major network like ABC or CBS. Instead, it aired on a Tuesday night in June on cable’s USA Network.
Prior to Clark’s arrival, breaking the 1 million mark in viewership seemed almost impossible for the WNBA. In fact, it’s been noted that the league hadn’t seen that level of audience in nearly 16 years, the last occurrence being in 2008 during Candace Parker’s debut, which garnered 1.07 million viewers on ABC.
Now, thanks to Clark, achieving similar numbers seems more feasible. This isn’t just a one-off success; both Clark and the Fever have consistently drawn impressive numbers throughout the season.
For instance, in their opening weekend against the Dallas Wings, they recorded an average of 2.49 million viewers on ABC, ranking as the fourth-largest attendance for the WNBA since 2000, playoffs included. Similarly, a matchup against the New York Liberty on CBS earlier this month averaged 2.56 million viewers, peaking at 3.02 million, making it one of the highest viewership records in WNBA history.
That said, it’s worth mentioning that recent changes in Nielsen’s measuring methods make direct comparisons with past ratings somewhat complicated. Yet, it’s evident that the WNBA is crafting a new narrative of higher viewer engagement.
Despite what media might suggest about the general growth of women’s basketball, significant viewership numbers seem to consistently circle back to Clark. Reactions from the sports media often suggest that these ratings should signify a broader women’s basketball success story. Granted, women’s basketball is certainly gaining attention, but the catalyst behind this surge is pretty clear.
And it’s Caitlin Clark’s influence we’re discussing.
One week following the Fever’s remarkable viewership against the Liberty, the Minnesota Lynx faced off against the Las Vegas Aces in another nationally televised matchup on CBS. On paper, this seemed like a high-stakes game that could draw a large audience, featuring A’ja Wilson, who is touted by some as the league’s true superstar.
However, that game only attracted 872,000 viewers. While that’s still a strong number for the WNBA, it pales compared to the recent figures generated when Clark is on the court. A week before, when Clark played, the viewers nearly tripled that showing.
In terms of cable, the June 16 game scored 1 million viewers, contrasting sharply with the previous day’s Aces-Wings game, which saw 457,000 viewers. This is not an attempt to downplay the talents of other players in the league; A’ja Wilson stands out as a phenomenal athlete in her own right.
However, when it comes to appealing to casual fans, the figures indicate that they’re tuning in primarily to watch one individual: Caitlin Clark.
Despite the WNBA being in a potentially stronger position now than at any point before, there’s still heavy reliance on Clark to draw in those larger television audiences. Both can be true, and frankly, they are.
Clark has shifted expectations for the league significantly. Just a few years ago, achieving 1 million viewers for a game was virtually out of reach. Now, for a game featuring Clark on cable, hitting that mark feels like a given.
What’s evident is how much she’s reshaped the landscape of viewership.
The league and its supporters may continue to spin this narrative into a broader WNBA success story if they choose to. They can hold onto their preferred images. But the data doesn’t lie. Caitlin Clark is, fundamentally, the driving force behind the WNBA’s rising popularity.
Let’s not complicate the message.
