Decline in WNBA Television Ratings Post Caitlin Clark's Injury
Indiana Fever's shining star, Caitlin Clark, has been sidelined due to a quad injury suffered during a loss to the New York Liberty on May 24. And boy, are we feeling the pain.
With ratings dropping faster than a lead balloon, the WNBA is in dire need of its poster girl to get back on the court. Statistics show that the league has taken a massive nose-dive in viewership since Clark's injury.
According to figures from USA Today, nationally televised WNBA viewership has plummeted by an alarming 55% since Clark's injury, and Fever national TV games have seen a staggering 53% decline in viewers, averaging 847,000 compared to 1,810,000 when she was still in the game.
But here's the kicker. Clark only missed four out of the Fever's games. Two of those games were broadcast on network television, another on NBA TV, and the forth on Amazon Prime, unrated by Nielsen.
While the league saw a considerable decrease on NBA TV, games without Clark averaging 344K viewers compared to 581K for the NBA TV game she participated in, the game on ION did surprisingly well without her. In fact, it delivered the largest audience ever on ION for a game without Clark, more than doubling the audience of a similar ION broadcast last season!
Even the Fever-Sky game that aired on CBS drew a hefty number of viewers, despite Clark's absence, albeit a slight dip from the season-opener between the two teams.
And it's not just the viewership that's taking a hit. Sports betting on Indiana Fever games has seen a near 50% drop, coming less than a week after she went down with the injury.
Caitlin Clark, with her average of 19.0 points, 9.3 assists, and 6.0 rebounds for the Indiana Fever, has been a powerhouse in the league. Her absence has left a significant void that remains unfilled.
Now, some may argue that Chicago Sky's Angel Reese could be the face of the league alongside Clark. But so far, none have managed to come close to Clark's superstardom.
The WNBA has been grappling with an identity crisis since Clark joined the league in 2024. With these massive spikes in interest, the league seems to have bungled its message surrounding Clark’s success. Instead of focusing on her skill, the WNBA has ended up alienating potential fans by siding with the women who are jealous of her success.
So, what now? Well, the league desperately needs Clark back to boost its ratings and betting activity. But until then, we'll just have to bear with the ratings going downhill faster than a rollercoaster without a track.
Stay tuned for more on this developing story! Don't forget to share your thoughts with us at alejandro.avila@our website. If you want to keep up-to-date, follow us on X: @alejandroaveela.
In light of Caitlin Clark's absence due to a quad injury, the WNBA is experiencing a significant drop in viewership, with nationally-televised games plunging by 55% since her injury. This decline in ratings has also affected sports betting on Indiana Fever games, resulting in a near 50% drop in betting activity. Despite the drop, one game without Clark delivered the largest audience ever on ION for a game without Clark, more than doubling the audience of a similar broadcast last season. The league is in dire need of Clark's return to boost ratings and betting activity.
