Vincent Frank
We already know about the Caitlin Clark effect. Ever since she was performing at an historic level in college for the Iowa Hawkeyes, the guard has had a major impact on the growing popularity of women’s basketball.
Through her first eight WNBA games with the Indiana Fever, that has been no different. Pretty much every game has been nationally televised as broadcast partners attempt to take advantage of the growing popularity.
Clark’s big-time rival in college, Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky, is also having a major impact on the growing brand. Their continued feud with drama being the name of the game is part of the equation here.
Either way, things are looking up for women’s college basketball. New data adds even more fodder to this belief.
Related: Caitlin Clark Praised By Cavinder Twins – ‘Insanely Good For Women’s Basketball’
Historic WNBA TV Ratings With Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese Leading The Charge
David Rumsey of Front Office Sports just released some data on TV ratings thus far on the young WNBA season. They are absolutely eye-opening.
WNBA broadcast partners reported record viewership. As an example, Sunday’s game between the New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx on CBS drew 704,000 viewers. It’s the most-watched WNBA ever on that network. Neither Clark nor Reese were playing.
It’s not simply about the Fever and Sky. Heck, the two-time WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces have played a role in the growing brand of the WNBA. But it sure helps that this league has marketable stars. Clark is the prime example of that.
ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, ION, CBS and NBA TV have all reported record TV ratings for games thus far this season.
- Indiana Fever at Connecticut Sun (ESPN2, 2.1 million)
- Indiana Fever at New York Liberty (ABC, 1.7 million)
- Connecticut Sun at Indiana Fever (ESPN, 1.6 million)
- Indiana Fever at Los Angeles Sparks (ION, 724,000)
- New York Liberty at Minnesota Lynx (CBS, 704,000)
- Indiana Fever at Las Vegas Aces (NBA TV, 333,000)
Let’s put this into perspective. The 2023 Stanley Cup Finals between the Las Vegas Knights and Florida Panthers drew an average of 2.6 million viewers. Clark’s first regular season game came close to matching that.
Related: Caitlin Clark Just Got A New Endorsement Deal That Puts Her In Rare Air
Despite Drama, The Caitlin Clark Effect Is Real
We’ve seen women speak out about the Clark effect. In many ways, they are upset that she’s receiving a majority of the credit for the growing brand.
It makes sense to an extent. The aforementioned Aces are marketable with Kelsey Plum, A’ja Wilson and others leading the charge. They are the latest dynasty in the basketball world.
But it hard to argue with the numbers.
Vegas’ WNBA Finals win over the New York Liberty last year drew an average of 728,000 viewers. That series pitted one of the most-dominant teams in league history against a squad that exists in North America’s largest media market.
“I expect men to be petty because we’re the most insecure group in the world. Y’all should be thanking that girl for getting y’all a– private charters, all the money and visibility she’s bringing to the WNBA.”
Charles Barkley said recently of Caitlin Clark
Look at the numbers, and point to a lie.