Caitlin Clark, the Indiana Fever rookie, is making waves in the WNBA, drawing record-breaking television audiences and filling arenas. Known for her outstanding college career, where she set scoring records and attracted massive viewership, Clark’s influence has seamlessly transitioned to the professional level.
Recently, CBS reported that the game between the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky averaged 2.25 million viewers, marking it the most-watched WNBA game on any network in the past 23 years. This season, six networks have set new viewership records for WNBA games, all featuring Clark’s Fever. The numbers tell the story: 2.25 million viewers on CBS for Fever vs. Sky, 2.10 million on ESPN2 for Fever at Sun, and significant viewership for other matches on various networks.
Clark’s impact is not limited to television ratings. The Fever’s home game attendance has skyrocketed, surpassing 82,000 in just five games this season. This is a remarkable increase compared to last season’s total attendance of just over 81,000 across 20 home games. Clark’s presence has undoubtedly energized fans and brought renewed interest to the team.
Reflecting on the heightened popularity of the WNBA, Clark expressed gratitude for the support and excitement surrounding the league. “I’m just grateful for the support and excitement,” she said. “This is what the league and the players have deserved for a long time.” Alongside Clark, other star rookies like Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso, and Cameron Brink are also contributing to this surge in interest and support for women’s basketball.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert highlighted the financial and cultural growth of the league, noting that the increased attention and investment have led to significant improvements. In May, Engelbert announced a $50 million commitment to provide full-time charter flights for all teams over the next two seasons, addressing a long-standing issue of players flying commercial. She also aims to expand the league by adding four more teams before the 2028 season.
The excitement continues with WNBA games broadcasted every Friday night on ION, a subsidiary of Scripps News’ parent company, E.W. Scripps. Fans can look forward to watching Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever take on the Atlanta Dream and other thrilling matchups as the season progresses. This extensive coverage ensures that fans nationwide can enjoy the dynamic and ever-growing world of the WNBA.
