The WNBA is facing a steep drop in viewership after rookie sensation Caitlin Clark and her Indiana Fever were eliminated from the playoffs by the Connecticut Sun. Clark's playoff debut set records, attracting 1.84 million viewers for Game 1 and a staggering 2.54 million in Game 2. However, since her exit, ratings have plunged by almost 50%, with subsequent matchups failing to maintain the same audience.
The Fever's popularity soared during Clark's rookie season, becoming the most-watched team in the league. In fact, 14 of the most-watched games this season featured the Fever, with Clark consistently drawing significant attention due to her record-breaking performances. Clark set records for points, assists, and three-pointers during the regular season, further boosting her team's profile.
New Nike billboard to celebrate Caitlin Clark winning ROY 🔥 pic.twitter.com/648omEzwmX
— TickPick (@TickPick) October 3, 2024
Once Clark and the Fever were eliminated, the league struggled to keep viewers engaged. For instance, Game 1 between the New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces drew only 929,000 viewers, a sharp contrast to Clark’s playoff games, while the Sun-Minnesota Lynx game garnered a mere 650,000. Despite featuring some of the league’s top teams, these games couldn’t compete with the NFL for attention, a challenge Clark managed to overcome.
In addition to the drop in viewership, attendance numbers have also taken a hit. The Sun-Lynx matchup saw only 8,500 attendees, barely filling half the capacity of Minnesota's Target Center. The Liberty-Aces contest at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center attracted a better crowd with over 14,000 attendees, but still fell short of a sellout.
the first look at Caitlin Clark with her 2024 @WNBA Rookie of the Year trophy 🏆 pic.twitter.com/AVxwBitcOe
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) October 4, 2024
Clark's unprecedented popularity in her rookie year brought new fans to the WNBA, many of whom are now tuning out with her elimination.
She broke numerous records, including the most All-Star votes in league history and the first-ever rookie triple-double. Her team also set a record for the most attended regular season game, with 20,711 fans attending their final game against the Washington Mystics.
The "Caitlin Clark Effect" had a profound impact on the WNBA’s visibility this season, and her absence from the playoffs has left a noticeable void, both in ratings and fan interest.
The remaining playoff games face tough competition from other major sports like the NFL, MLB, and the upcoming NBA and NHL seasons, which makes it unlikely that the WNBA will see a resurgence in viewership without Clark.
