Caitlin Clark sets 21st-century WNBA viewership record in Indiana Fever playoff exit

The impact of Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark on WNBA viewership was once again on display, as Game 2 of their first-round series against the Connecticut Sun set a cable viewership record, despite the Fever’s 87-81 loss and elimination.

According to ESPN PR, Wednesday’s Game 2 of the Fever-Sun series attracted 2.5 million viewers on ESPN, marking the largest cable audience in WNBA history.

This game became the most-watched WNBA contest on cable, whether regular season or playoffs, with a 507% increase in audience from last year's first-round coverage on ESPN.

Per ESPN’s public relations, viewership peaked at 3.4 million. Across all networks, the best-of-three first round averaged 1.1 million viewers, setting a record for the opening playoff round in WNBA history.

Both Caitlin Clark and fellow rookie Angel Reese have been credited with driving this surge in WNBA viewership. Two games featuring the pair garnered over two million viewers each, and the Fever broke viewership records multiple times throughout the season.

Clark and Reese also hold the No. 1 and No. 2 spots in jersey sales for the first half of 2024.

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert had sparked controversy by suggesting the league’s rising viewership was fueled by a racial rivalry between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, framing it as a white vs. Black narrative.

In response, WNBA Players Association director Terri Carmichael Jackson pushed back, acknowledging the increase in interest due to the stars while emphasizing that rivalries shouldn't be defined by race.

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Looking at Caitlin Clark's record-shattering rookie year after playoff exit

A major factor in Caitlin Clark’s record-setting rookie season was her availability. She played all 40 regular season games and both playoff matchups for the Fever.

In the regular season, Clark averaged 19.2 points, 8.4 assists and 5.7 rebounds while shooting 34.4% from three. In the playoffs, she put up 18.0 points, 8.5 assists and 5.0 rebounds, with a 35.0% clip from deep.

The Game 2 loss on Wednesday marked the end of Caitlin Clark’s season, but she went out with a stellar performance, recording 25 points, nine assists, six rebounds, one steal and a block while playing all 40 minutes.

Clark shot 10-of-23 from the field, making three-of-12 attempts from beyond the arc, and was perfect from the free-throw line, going 2-for-2.

This season, Clark set rookie records in scoring and assists, including the most assists in a season by any WNBA player, rookie or not. She also set the single-game assist record, with 19.

Clark also holds the rookie record for 3-pointers and became the first WNBA rookie to record a triple-double. She was unanimously named the AP Rookie of the Year.