Unfortunately, Caitlyn Clark won’t be playing basketball for a while after the Indiana Fever’s playoff loss to the Connecticut Sun. This is a big blow for the WNBA as fans are starting to turn away from the league. Sports experts like Steven Smith often call Caitlyn Clark a “box office star,” but some former players and WNBA officials downplay her impact on the league’s growth.
The difference in viewership when Clark plays is striking. This season, games featuring her averaged 1.78 million viewers, while games without her only brought in about 394,000. Plus, before Caitlyn joined the league, WNBA season ticket sales increased by 16%. In her rookie season alone, that number jumped to 93%. If that doesn’t show who the biggest star is, I don’t know what does.
Caitlyn’s absence is a major loss for the WNBA. No other team sport in America relies so heavily on one player for national viewership. She is more crucial to the WNBA than Patrick Mahomes is to the NFL or LeBron James to the NBA. Clark is a phenomenal player who shattered records in college and had one of the best rookie seasons ever. Her exciting playing style is reminiscent of Steph Curry’s.
Honestly, Caitlyn has helped keep the WNBA afloat financially after years of struggle. For instance, there were three playoff games on a recent Sunday, but viewership only averaged between 100,000 and 150,000. In contrast, games featuring Clark this season drew nearly 2 million viewers. Even the WNBA’s countdown to Indiana Fever games attracted more viewers than some actual games.
Caitlyn Clark’s influence is undeniable, and her return will be crucial for the future of the league. During a somber press conference on September 29th, 2024, Clark was asked if she would head to Europe for the next season. She said, “I need a reset, need to get away from all of this,” clearly exhausted from the pressure and lack of protection on the court.
Clark’s departure isn’t just a loss for Indiana; it’s a financial and PR disaster for the entire WNBA. Her arrival was a phenomenon, drawing record-breaking crowds and TV viewers.
