Sunday's WNBA playoff game between the New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces was the league's most-watched semifinal round game in the last 22 years.
The match drew an average of 929,000 viewers, a 60% increase from last year's semifinals.
The numbers from last year's WNBA Finals rematch caught the attention of Jemele Hill, and he appeared to be trying to make a point about Caitlin Clark.
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Jemele Hill and Caitlin Clark (Getty Images/IMAGN)
“Yet we continue to see irresponsible headlines about how the WNBA playoffs are underperforming due to Caitlin Clark's absence.” Hill wrote to X.
Despite the WNBA's historic numbers, one could argue that the ratings would have been higher had Clark played.
Clark drew a WNBA record 1.84 million viewers for the first playoff game against the Connecticut Sun on September 22nd, which was against the NFL on Sunday. set a record. Clark and the Indiana Fever lost. However, in both games Clark was sent home in the offseason.
Ratings for Game 2 were more than double what the games against Liberty and Aces drew earlier this week.
But Hill conceded that despite his views on “irresponsible headlines”, Clark would likely get better ratings.
“Would the ratings have been higher if she had been in the show? Of course. But what do you think? [an NBA] It would have been rated higher if the final was LeBron vs. Steph. Or if a team with a large market size is participating. so what? That's the headline. ”
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark reacts during the first round of the WNBA playoffs against Connecticut on September 25, 2024 in Uncasville, Connecticut. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
WNBA first-rounder Nika Mule stretches off court after being injured in an overseas game
Still, it was a historically good performance for a WNBA playoff game without Clark involved. That was better than any of the finals telecasts between the two teams last year.
Both of these games are far behind some of Clark's usual Reason games in terms of viewership. In early September, Clark's Indiana Fever drew 1.26 million television viewers in a game against the Minnesota Lynx that coincided with the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers' Week 1 Friday night NFL game. I played in front.
Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever celebrates during a game against the Los Angeles Sparks at Crypto.com Arena on May 24, 2024 in Los Angeles. (Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
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Clark was named the WNBA's Rookie of the Year on Thursday, receiving 66 of 67 first-place votes. Angel Reese received the remaining votes.
FOX News' Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.
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