If you’ve been following the WNBA playoffs, you’d think the world had just stopped spinning because Caitlin Clark isn’t there to give us her behind-the-back magic anymore. And apparently, a dip in TV ratings has got some sports journalists in a frenzy, as if Clark holds the very essence of the WNBA hostage. But don’t fret, Jemele Hill is here to restore order — and throw a little shade while she’s at it.
Hill, a sports journalist with a resume longer than a CVS receipt, jumped on X (formerly Twitter) to call out the “sky is falling” crowd. Some media outlets have been tossing around headlines like “WNBA Ratings Plummet Without Clark” as if the league has packed up its bags and gone home. Jemele was NOT having it. In fact, she branded those claims as “irresponsible,” basically telling them to take a seat.
“Would ratings be higher if she were still in it? Sure,” Hill admitted with a digital shrug. “But that’s like saying an NBA Finals would be juicier if it were LeBron vs. Steph. Duh!” she tweeted, nailing the most obvious point in sports history. It’s not exactly breaking news that having big names on the court translates to higher ratings. Hill’s comparison to the NBA, though, left a few Clark enthusiasts clutching their pearls.
Now, let’s face it: Caitlin Clark is a ratings magnet. Her games have pulled in numbers like she’s handing out free money. We’re talking an average of 1.178 million viewers when she’s on the floor, compared to a measly 394,000 when she’s not. That’s a 199% difference. Forget LeBron, Steph, or even Mahomes—Clark is out here doing things that have TV executives lighting candles in her name.
The latest “disaster”? Aces vs. Liberty, the WNBA’s star-studded rematch, pulled in numbers that were 50% lower than Clark’s playoff debut. Ouch. Seems like people would rather watch Clark’s buzzer-beaters than a championship showdown. Talk about star power.
But Hill wasn’t about to let the media turn this into “The Clark Chronicles.” She’s all about the bigger picture—like the actual growth of the WNBA—and throwing the spotlight solely on Clark’s absence misses that point. Sure, we love a good Cinderella story (and Clark is every bit of that), but there are other ballers on the court, people!
Still, the numbers don’t lie, and it’s obvious why the headlines have been laser-focused on the “Clarkless” ratings dip. People are obsessed with her, and until she’s back on the screen, we’ll probably keep hearing about it.
So, whether you’re Team Hill or Team “We Want More Clark,” one thing is for sure—Jemele Hill isn’t afraid to stir the pot.
