Breaking news, folks: it turns out women’s basketball existed before Caitlin Clark! Who knew, right? Certainly not ESPN, if you ask Candace Parker.
Three-time WNBA champion Candace Parker is fed up, and she didn’t hold back during her recent appearance on “The Deal with Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly.” While discussing the massive surge in attention around women’s basketball—thanks to the magic touch of Caitlin Clark—Parker had some pointed words for a certain sports network that rhymes with BSPN (spoiler: it’s ESPN).
According to Parker, the WNBA was essentially buried under a pile of dust in ESPN’s basement until Clark’s arrival on the scene. Apparently, it took a record-breaking sharpshooter from Iowa to remind the network that, surprise, women can ball too!
“The first time they put the Women’s NCAA game on ABC was when Caitlin Clark made the championship game,” Parker said with a ‘duh’ tone that resonated through the airwaves. “Are you surprised that viewership was up? People actually saw the product! It was buried for so long on ESPN.” Yikes. Shots fired.
For years, Parker and her fellow WNBA stars were left to play in near anonymity, with ESPN barely lifting a finger to promote the league. Now, with Clark in the picture, suddenly women’s basketball is cool enough for primetime TV. Parker, who’s been championing the league for over a decade, couldn’t resist pointing out the irony.
And it didn’t stop there. Parker took a jab at the logic (or lack thereof) behind the WNBA’s game scheduling, which often placed the league in direct conflict with NFL games—a ratings suicide mission. “The NBA doesn’t want to clash with the NFL playoffs or opening week. So why would we put the WNBA there? I don’t care if that’s the time slot they’re giving you—let’s fight for another one!” Preach, Candace!
The Clark Effect: From Obscurity to Boomtown
Let’s face it: the WNBA was struggling to attract attention before Caitlin Clark came along, like a superhero swooping in to save the day. Just last season, the league averaged a meager 505,000 viewers across all platforms. Meanwhile, attendance hovered around 6,615 fans per game, which, in NBA terms, is basically a slightly busy Tuesday afternoon at a G League game.
Fast forward to 2024, and suddenly the WNBA is breaking records left and right. The league claims to have reached 54 million unique viewers across ABC, CBS, ESPN, ESPN2, ION, and NBA TV this season. Plus, attendance shot up by a whopping 48%. Coincidence? Not if you look at Clark’s receipts.
The Indiana Fever, home of Clark, went from being a WNBA afterthought to the league’s hottest ticket. Not only did the Fever sell out 100% of their season ticket inventory (which is, like, all of it), but they also saw a 264% increase in overall attendance. Apparently, Hoosiers aren’t messing around when it comes to catching a glimpse of the new superstar.
And it’s not just butts in seats—Clark’s fever (pun intended) has driven the Fever to become the most-followed team in the entire WNBA across social media. We’re talking more engagement than the NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLB. Take a moment to let that sink in.
Oh, and let’s not forget about the merch. Fever jerseys flew off the shelves faster than hotcakes, with a staggering 1,193% increase in sales. Yes, you read that right: one thousand, one hundred and ninety-three percent. Meanwhile, transactions in the team store jumped by 700%. It’s safe to say Clark’s rookie season paid off—literally.
More to Come?
With Clark now firmly cemented as the face of the WNBA, Parker hopes the league’s newfound fame isn’t just a flash in the pan. But it raises the question: why did it take so long for ESPN to realize what fans of women’s basketball have known for years? There’s a lot of talent, a lot of drama, and—let’s be real—a lot of highlight-worthy dunks and buzzer-beaters in the WNBA.
Now that the league has finally cracked through the glass ceiling of sports media, it’s up to the networks to keep the momentum going. As Parker would say: “Let’s fight for better time slots!” Because women’s basketball deserves to be front and center—not stuck in the shadow of its male counterpart.
In the meantime, Caitlin Clark is sure to keep doing what she does best: lighting up the scoreboard, selling jerseys, and proving, once and for all, that the WNBA isn’t just background noise—it’s primetime TV.
The real question now is: who’s ready for next season?
