• Loading stock data...
Thursday, November 21, 2024

Caitlin Clark Was a Gift for WNBA, ESPN Despite Early Exit

  • Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever were eliminated from the WNBA playoffs Wednesday by the Connecticut Sun.
  • The WNBA is expected to see a dip in viewership with Clark out of the picture.
Mark Smith-Imagn Images

Caitlin Clark’s run in the WNBA postseason lasted just two games.

The Indiana Fever were swept out of the playoffs following an 87-81 loss to the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday at the Mohegan Sun Arena. Clark scored 25, dished out 9 assists, and grabbed six rebounds in the finale, becoming the first WNBA rookie with at least 25 points, 5 assists, and 5 rebounds in a playoff game. While the loss was predictable—the Sun have been title contenders nearly every year since 2017—the end of the Fever’s season could be a blow to the league’s viewership.

Game 1 between the two sides averaged 1.8 million viewers on ABC, the WNBA’s most-watched playoff game since 2000, and more than the combined viewership total of the other three playoff openers. Viewership for Fever-Sun Game 2 could be in the ballpark of Game 1 despite airing on ESPN instead of ABC because it did not compete with the NFL and had the added component of being an elimination game.

Everybody Wins

The WNBA was growing before this year. Viewership had doubled from 2020 to 2023, and stars like A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, and Kelsey Plum were starting to gain some mainstream popularity.

But just because the league was already growing and would have likely continued to grow without Clark, doesn’t mean she shouldn’t receive the lion’s share of the credit for this year’s unprecedented growth. Two things can be true at once.

Attendance for the entire league is up nearly 50% this year, according to data from Across The Timeline, and Indiana leads all teams with an average attendance of 17,035, up 319% from last year. All other teams still grew by double-digit percentages.

Many of those increases could be attributed to games against Clark. The Atlanta Dream, Las Vegas Aces, and Washington Mystics all moved games to bigger arenas when they hosted the Fever. But there were increases that can’t be directly attributed to the rookie—such as the 69% attendance jump from the L.A. Sparks, the WNBA’s second-highest percent increase, despite hosting the Fever just once this year and finishing with the league’s worst record.

Merchandise sales are also up 450% for the WNBA, according to Fanatics, and Clark was the top-selling player and is fifth among athletes across all sports. Fanatics also reported a 100% increase in sales for WNBA-specific merchandise.

Until Next Year, Caitlin

With Clark’s season over, the WNBA’s viewership numbers should drop, but the extent of the dip will showcase the true effect of her popularity.

There are some early positive signs for the league as Game 2 of the Aces and Seattle Storm series averaged 985,000 viewers on ESPN, according to Programming Insider, higher than any 2023 WNBA Finals game. Game 2 of the New York Liberty and Dream series averaged 863,000 viewers, doubling its Sunday viewership.

A new crop of rookies could potentially carry over the growth of NCAA women’s basketball to the pro level next year, highlighted by UConn’s Paige Bueckers. The 2025–2026 season will also showcase the sustainability of Clark’s popularity, and whether it can survive past the novelty of her rookie year.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

NBA Legend Hubie Brown Stepping Away From ESPN at 91

Brown has been associated with the league for over 50 years.
Nov 18, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Williams Racing driver Logan Sargeant of the United States (2) during the Las Vegas Grand Prix at Las Vegas Strip Circuit.

F1 Grand Prix Upended Vegas Last Year. Stakes Are High for Its..

Stakes are high as F1 gears up for a successful second act.
Geno Auriemma

Geno Auriemma Becomes All-Time Winningest NCAA Basketball Coach

He took the record from Tara VanDerveer, who set it in January.
Rose Zhang congratulates her teammate Sahith Theegala after making his putt on the 9th green at the Grant Thornton Invitational at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples on Friday, Dec. 8, 2023.

TGL Considering Mixed Event, Women’s League Amid LPGA Talks

The new league from Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy launches in January.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

Who Can Actually Afford Juan Soto?

0:00

Featured Today

Classic Football Shirts New York Pop-Up

Vintage Soccer Jerseys Have Found a Sweet Spot in the Lucrative U.S...

The money-making shirts are at the prime intersection of memorabilia and fashion.
Nov 13, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) reacts after fouling Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (not pictured) during the second half at Madison Square Garden.
opinion
November 16, 2024

NBA Ratings Rorschach Test: Buy the Dip

Was it the election? Too many threes? Lack of storylines?
November 15, 2024

Executive Decision: When Richard Nixon Named a College Football Champion

In 1969, the 37th president unilaterally named the winner of the season.
November 15, 2024

How Women’s Sports Could Change in the Next Trump Era

Under the president-elect, Title IX could change drastically.
Oct 16, 2024; New York City, New York, USA; MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred before game three of the NLCS for the 2024 MLB playoffs at Citi Field.

Manfred Urges Patience on Rays Ballpark, Eyes MLB Media Shift

The commissioner also sees a new era emerging in the sport’s local media landscape.
Jalen Brunson (left) and Rick Brunson
November 19, 2024

Knicks Say NBA Is Out to Get Them After Latest League Probe

The team accused the league of retaliation Monday.
November 19, 2024

LPGA’s Richest Season Ever Set to Crown a Record-Breaker

The current record is $4,364,994 by Lorena Ochoa in 2007.
Sponsored

How UBS Crafts Impactful Partnerships Across Sports, Arts, and Culture

As UBS continues to expand its impressive array of sports and entertainment partnerships, the company solidifies its position as a leader in wealth management.
May 5, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) celebrates with guard Darius Garland (10) after Garland hit a three point basket during the second half against the Orlando Magic in game seven of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
November 18, 2024

Undefeated Cavs Chase History in NBA Cup Showdown vs. Celtics

Cleveland is 15–0 to start the season.
November 15, 2024

How Taylor Swift’s Tour Is Fueling Blue Jays Owner’s Sports Empire

There have been multiple intersections between the company’s sports assets and the pop icon’s Canadian concerts.
November 15, 2024

NFL’s Big Schedule Play: 18-Games, 16 International Matchups on the Table

The league wants to expand its regular season to 18 games, too.
November 14, 2024

Indy 500 Open for F1 Drivers After Monaco GP Date Shift

The Monaco GP will be in June starting in 2026.