It is widely acknowledged that the WNBA is experiencing record-breaking numbers this season. A big part of this success is attributed to the No. 1 overall draft pick and controversial figure Caitlin Clark. However, the impact Clark has on viewership and the numbers for games without her is a topic worth discussing. This past weekend provided some interesting insights on this matter.
Predictably, the two games over the weekend featuring Clark and the Indiana Fever performed exceptionally well. The Phoenix Mercury game against the Fever on Friday drew 1.34 million viewers on Scripps Sports’ ION, the largest audience for that network since it started its Friday night package last year. Similarly, Sunday’s game between the Fever and the Minnesota Lynx drew 1.57 million viewers on ESPN, making it the seventh-largest WNBA audience since 2002.
According to Jon Lewis at Sports Media Watch, the ten largest audiences since 2002 have all occurred this year and have all featured Clark. However, Lewis also mentioned the significant success of WNBA games that do not involve Clark directly. This was evident over the weekend as well, as highlighted in his analysis:
ABC’s game between the Mercury and the Sun averaged 1.02 million viewers, marking the second time this season a WNBA game surpassed a million viewers without Clark on the court. Unlike the first instance with Sparks-Aces, Connecticut’s game did not air next to Clark and the Fever’s game. In total, 15 WNBA games this season have attracted at least one million viewers, setting a new record.
The weekend also saw ABC’s game between the Liberty and the Sky draw 961,000 viewers, making it the 20th game this season to surpass 900,000 viewers. CBS also scored 676,000 viewers for the Sparks-Wings game, while ION attracted 460,000 viewers for Lynx-Storm in its Friday doubleheader.
What can we infer from all this data? The central point of discussion may be related to those who have criticized the focus on the “rookie class,” an issue that Pat McAfee brought up on his ESPN/YouTube show in June. While McAfee received criticism for his comments, the ratings suggest he may have had a valid point, albeit not the complete picture.
As previously mentioned, a significant part of the WNBA’s current success is attributed to Clark. Attempts to diminish her impact are not convincing. However, it doesn’t mean that Clark should automatically be on the U.S. Olympic team or be guaranteed rookie of the year based solely on ratings.
Nevertheless, the discussion around the “rookie class” and the WNBA in general goes beyond Clark and includes veteran players as well. The rise in popularity of the WNBA (and women’s sports in general) owes much to Clark, but it’s not solely about her.
The notable viewership numbers on ION also indicate this trend. While Clark played a part in these results, ION’s consistent time slot is also a contributing factor, as noted by many in the industry.
In conclusion, Clark undeniably plays a key role in the WNBA ratings. She is currently a major factor, but not the sole influence on viewership numbers.
[Sports Media Watch]
