We’ve seen the ratings, merchandise sales, and attendance figures, but some still want to shift the focus away from Caitlyn Clark. Despite all the talk about the women who laid the foundation for the game, let’s acknowledge that Caitlyn Clark is the unanimous Rookie of the Year and a member of the WNBA First Team.`
As you may know, Clark’s season ended with a heartbreaking playoff loss to the Connecticut Sun. However, this season was phenomenal from start to finish. Clark led the league in assists, broke records, finished in the top 10 in scoring, and emerged as one of the league’s most prolific shooters.
When discussing Clark’s rookie season, one key takeaway is the “Caitlyn Clark effect,” which significantly boosts attendance and viewership. For instance, the first playoff game against the Sun, which aired at 3 PM on a Sunday during NFL prime time, attracted 1.8 million viewers. This is an extraordinary number, as only two games in WNBA history have drawn more viewers, both in the late 1990s. To put it in perspective, that 1.8 million figure dwarfs other games: the Dream vs. Liberty attracted 410,000 viewers, while the Mercury vs. Lynx barely cracked 400,000. Even the Aces vs. Storm game reached only 461,000 viewers. Collectively, these games featuring stars like A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart didn’t even surpass Clark’s single game against the Sun.
This clearly shows that, while the WNBA has great players and teams, none have the drawing power of Caitlyn Clark. In the second playoff game, played on a Tuesday evening, Clark’s presence resulted in 2.5 million viewers. For context, last year’s finals featuring Wilson and Stewart averaged only 720,000 viewers and peaked at 900,000, indicating a staggering increase of over 3,000% in viewership when Clark was involved.
The impact of Caitlyn Clark on women’s basketball is unprecedented. The closest comparison I see is Dr. J in the 1970s with the ABA. Just as Dr. J could fill arenas and draw attention, Clark does the same today. While WNBA fans have a baseline interest, it skyrockets tenfold when she plays. Some past and current players might not appreciate this, as the league has historically had a niche fanbase. The rise of this rookie as the face of the league naturally breeds some resentment.
Regarding the narrative about past players who laid the groundwork for the league, I find it puzzling. Early pioneers like Cynthia Cooper, Cheryl Swoops, and Lisa Leslie helped the league gain traction, but from the mid-2000s onward, viewership stagnated, with not a single game surpassing 1 million viewers from 2008 to 2023. Despite the backing of networks and promotions, the league struggled to break through, while Caitlyn Clark, in just one season, achieved that milestone 23 times.
Clark and her Indiana Fever team are now must-see TV, significantly impacting attendance figures. For instance, when the Mystics and Dream played against Clark, they needed to switch venues to accommodate larger crowds, while without her, they couldn’t even attract 5,000 fans. The same trend held for the Atlanta Dream, who saw attendance dip below 4,000 when Clark wasn’t playing.
In summary, Caitlyn Clark has become the face of the league and its biggest draw, despite being a rookie. While other teams are gaining popularity, none come close to her impact. The numbers are stark: Clark’s games averaged 1.78 million viewers, while non-Clark games struggled to hit 400,000.
As we look forward, it will be interesting to see how viewership and attendance are affected now that Clark is out of the playoffs. Those numbers will be telling for the future of the league. Thanks for watching, and I hope you enjoyed this analysis. Until next time!