The emergence of rookie standout Caitlin Clark has significantly impacted the WNBA, boosting its ratings and attendance to record levels in the first month of the new season.
Across the nation, WNBA arenas have reported up to 94% capacity, with WNBA games averaging 1.32 million viewers on major networks such as ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, and CBS. Last year, the WNBA averaged 462,000 viewers.
Caitlin Clark, #22 of the Indiana Fever, poses for a photo with fans before a game against the New York Liberty at Barclays Center on June 02, 2024, in New York City. (Luke Hales/Getty Images)
“What’s happening now in women’s basketball is confirmation of what we’ve always known: The demand is there, and women’s sports is a valuable investment,” Chief Growth Officer Colie Edison said in a statement. “We’re encouraged by growing engagement across all our verticals, especially as we welcome new and diverse audiences into our fandom. The WNBA continues to experience sustained growth as our league embraces this heightened momentum.”
The influence of rookie star Caitlin Clark is undeniable, with her first three games of the season “setting records for the most-watched WNBA game of all time on the respective networks,” according to the NY Post.
“The May 14 season opener between the Fever and Sun averaged 2.12 million viewers for ESPN 2; on May 18, ABC averaged 1.71 million viewers when the Fever faced the Liberty, and on May 20, 1.56 million viewers tuned in for the Sun vs. Fever game on ESPN,” it reported.
Caitlin Clark, #22 of the Indiana Fever, signs autographs for fans before the game against the Chicago Sky on June 1, 2024, at Bainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)
The news of the ratings surge comes after the U.S. Olympic team announced that Caitlin Clark did not make the roster for this year’s summer games in Paris.
