In a world where basketball is almost synonymous with the NBA, a rising star in the WNBA is causing more than just a stir – she’s creating a ratings dilemma that should have Adam Silver wondering if he’s still the main event. Caitlin Clark, the Indiana Fever’s new guard sensation, has taken the basketball world by storm. But here’s the kicker: her WNBA debut didn’t just trend on social media, it actually outdrew the NBA’s season opener in television ratings. Yes, you read that right.
Let’s break it down. ESPN’s first NBA games of the 2024-25 season pulled in an average of 1.6 million viewers. That’s solid. Not earth-shattering, but respectable enough to keep fans entertained. However, Clark’s debut on ESPN2? It raked in 2.1 million. ESPN2. You know, the channel you sometimes forget exists. In her first big WNBA moment, Clark delivered a viewer haul that left the NBA wondering if they’re still the cool kids on the block.
Now, of course, we could chalk this up to curiosity – people tuning in to see if Clark could back up all the hype. Spoiler alert: she did. But even if that was the case, the fact that a WNBA game had more eyeballs glued to the screen than a primetime NBA matchup is more than a one-off event. It’s a sign. And not the kind the NBA wants to see.
Here’s where things get fun. For the 2023-2024 season, NBA regular-season games averaged 1.6 million viewers across TNT, ABC, and ESPN. Meanwhile, the WNBA, once mocked as the NBA’s “little sister,” managed an impressive 1.19 million on ESPN platforms and 1.1 million on CBS. Sure, if you throw in NBA TV (where the audience could fit inside a cozy diner at 330,000), the gap widens. But let’s not ignore the fact that WNBA broadcasts weren’t exactly a landslide loss.
And oh, let’s not forget Caitlin Clark’s effect on Indiana Fever viewership. Games featuring the Iowa Hawkeye-turned-WNBA superstar performed 199% better than other matchups. That’s not a typo. 199%. At this rate, the Fever might want to invest in some larger arenas – or at least an extra trophy cabinet to hold all the TV ratings records Clark seems poised to break. Heck, they even outperformed some NBA games on NBA TV. Imagine explaining that to the league execs.
But before you WNBA fans pop the champagne and start planning a ticker-tape parade, the NBA still reigns supreme when it comes to the big-ticket events. The NBA Playoffs pulled in an average of 3.17 million viewers in the first week last season. Caitlin’s Fever? A respectable 2.15 million. Not bad for a first-round series that aired during an NFL Sunday – and it only lasted two games. Maybe if the series had gone longer, we’d be looking at a different story.
In the grand scheme of things, the NBA is still the big dog. Their Finals averaged 11.3 million viewers, with the Boston Celtics besting the Dallas Mavericks in a series that gripped the basketball world. The WNBA Finals? 2.2 million viewers. Not bad at all considering they were up against Sunday Night Football and the MLB Playoffs. But, okay, so maybe we’re not quite at “even playing field” status just yet.
However, the trend is undeniable. While NBA ratings are steadily sinking like a jump shot hitting all air, the WNBA is experiencing a ratings boom. Playoff viewership for the WNBA jumped a whopping 142% in 2024. And we haven’t even gotten to Caitlin Clark’s sophomore season yet. Can you imagine what’s going to happen when the Fever makes a real playoff run?
So, NBA, enjoy your throne while you can. The WNBA is creeping up behind you, and with Caitlin Clark leading the charge, it might not be long before you’re sharing more than just broadcasting partners.
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