• Loading stock data...
Saturday, July 19, 2025

Caitlin Clark Debuts With WNBA’s Most-Watched Game in Decades

  • While the star suffered a blowout loss, it was a massive win for the WNBA and ESPN.
  • The game drew an average of 2.12 million viewers, the WNBA’s highest since 2001.
David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

WNBA, meet Clarkonomics.

Caitlin Clark’s WNBA debut against the Connecticut Sun drew an average audience of 2.12 million viewers Tuesday night, the league’s most-viewed game in 23 years, according to Sports Media Watch.

The game, which aired on ESPN2, drew the biggest audience since the Los Angeles Sparks and Houston Comets played on Memorial Day back in 2001 on NBC. The number to beat is 5.04 million viewers, which holds the record for the WNBA’s largest all-time audience during a 1997 game between the Sparks and New York Liberty.

The Indiana Fever didn’t get a bigger viewership than the NBA playoff games Tuesday, but did best the Bruins-Panthers NHL playoff game on ESPN that bumped it to the network’s second platform, which had 1.99 million viewers. The Phoenix Mercury and Las Vegas Aces, who played on ESPN2 directly after the Fever and Liberty, drew only an average of 464,000 viewers.

The big draw is a huge moment for the league, ready for the business transformation that the stardom of Clark and her peers promises. The championship game of last year’s WNBA Finals, the most-watched of the series, drew an average of 889,000 viewers. The entire postseason was the league’s most watched in 16 years. This year’s draft blew those numbers out of the water, averaging 2.45 million viewers on ESPN. While Clark’s debut didn’t beat that figure, she still significantly moved the needle for a league itching for change.

While the Fever suffered a blowout loss to the Sun, new fans got a chance to see the league’s other stars in action. It’s a process players and coaches have been excited about: audiences tuning in for Clark and the other rookies starting to notice the vets. On his ESPN show, Pat McAfee complimented DeWanna Bonner’s “smooth” play as she became the league’s fifth all-time leading scorer during the game. “There are some bucket-getters on the other team that I have never heard of in my life,” McAfee said.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Ryan Field Construction
exclusive

First Look Inside Northwestern’s $862 Million New Ryan Field

Five big things FOS learned on our exclusive stadium tour.
Jul 13, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announces the pick for the Athletics pick during the MLB Draft at The Coca-Cola Roxy.

Manfred Says MLB Had Wrong Approach to Creators Like Jomboy

“You gotta go where people are going,” the commissioner said.
(NCL_OSU_11_SUGAR_LAURON 04JAN11) Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Terrelle Pryor (2) slips around the Arkansas Razorbacks defense during first half of the Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, January 4, 2011.

Terrelle Pryor’s Case for NIL Backpay Dismissed in Court

Pryor played seven years in the NFL after leaving OSU amid a scandal.

Featured Today

Jul 21, 2024; Ayrshire, SCT; Xander Schauffele celebrates with Claret Jug after winning the Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Troon.

The Boozy History and Traditions of The Open’s Claret Jug

The Open awards the world’s most famous wine decanter.
2025 PDC World Darts Championship Final - Luke Littler vs Michael Van Gerwen
July 16, 2025

A Teen Darts Prodigy Is Becoming Bigger Than the Game Itself

Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler is cashing in on his devastatingly accurate shot.
May 31, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Sydney McLaughin-Levrone (USA) reacts before the women's 100m hurdles during the Grand Slam Track Philadelphia at Franklin Field
exclusive
July 13, 2025

Track’s New Money Is Running Into Old Problems

The sport’s big-money era has hit some speed bumps in 2025.
Bobbleheads are seen at Vintage Indy Sports, Tuesday, April 29, 2025 in Speedway. The local sports memorabilia store opened recently.
July 12, 2025

Baseball’s Bobbleheads Are the Center of the Collectibles Universe

Baseball’s most important keepsake drives long lines—and big business.

Netflix Beats Projections Again—and Plots Big Holiday Sports Slate

The streaming giant again beats analyst projections in every respect.
Jul 15, 2025; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; National League designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a home run in the swing off of after the 2025 MLB All Star Game ended in a tie at Truist Park.
July 16, 2025

MLB All-Star Game Viewership Dips Despite Historic Swing-Off

Game viewership falls 3% despite late dramatics in the unique tiebreaker.
July 17, 2025

ESPN Bidding Against NBC, Apple for MLB Rights Package

The league continues to negotiate with multiple media-rights bidders.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
July 15, 2025

MLB Home Run Derby Draws 5.7M Viewers on ESPN, Up 5%

ESPN reverses the trend from last year and registers audience growth.
July 15, 2025

WNBA Hits Fourth-Highest ABC Viewership With Clark-Bueckers Duel

Clark missed the first Fever vs. Wings game with an injury.
Brittney Griner and Caitlin Clark
exclusive
July 15, 2025

‘Good Morning America’ Will Air From WNBA All-Star in First

The All-Star Game’s relevance has exploded with the league in recent years.
NBC Sports
exclusive
July 14, 2025

NBC Hiring Ex-Hawks Exec Grant Liffmann As NBA Front Office Insider

Liffmann spent the last three years with Atlanta after covering the Warriors.