WNBA Ratings Boosted in Absence of Caitlin Clark, but ESPN Fails to Disclose Entire Picture
The WNBA's long-term ability to maintain high viewership levels, especially in the absence of star player Caitlin Clark, is uncertain. The league has seen a rise in ratings this season, with ESPN and CBS WNBA games up 3% and 5.5% respectively [1]. However, the absence of Clark has had a significant impact on viewership.
The 2025 WNBA All-Star Game, for instance, saw a 36% drop in viewership compared to the previous year, when Clark was present. The 2025 game drew 2.19 million viewers, down from a record 3.44 million in 2024 [2][4]. This drop directly correlates with Clark sitting out due to a groin injury.
Industry voices and analysts underscore that Clark's star power is crucial for the league's growth in audience and revenue. Three regular-season games featuring Clark in 2025 outperformed the All-Star Game itself, highlighting her unique pull [1].
Clark's influence extends beyond the WNBA into her collegiate career, where her games set historic attendance and viewership records, further demonstrating her role as a major factor in popularizing women's basketball [3].
Despite her injuries, Clark has missed half of her team's games this year. Even her absence has had an impact on viewership, with the game between the Indiana Fever and Seattle Storm in 2025 averaging nearly 30% less viewership than the previous year [5].
The WNBA is averaging viewership across all networks. The league features more games on major networks like ABC, CBS, and ESPN this year compared to last year [6]. Viewership naturally increases when WNBA games are on these networks. For example, the game between the Indiana Fever and Seattle Storm on ABC in 2024 averaged 2.23 million viewers [7]. This year, the same game drew an average of 1.6 million viewers on Sunday [8].
Caitlin Clark has been instrumental in drawing viewers to the WNBA. The most-watched game on ESPN this year was when Clark and the Fever hosted the Chicago Sky in their opening game, drawing over 2.5 million viewers [9].
The WNBA continues to post strong TV ratings, with viewership up 21% compared to last year, and non-Fever games up 37% [10]. However, the league is losing out on viewership without Clark on the court.
In short, Caitlin Clark's presence correlates strongly with higher WNBA TV ratings, and her absence causes noticeable drops in viewership, confirming her status as the league’s top attraction and a critical part of its commercial success. The WNBA's ability to maintain high viewership levels over the long term, especially in the absence of Clark, remains uncertain.
[1] [ESPN] [2] [CBS] [3] [NCAA] [4] [Sports Business Journal] [5] [Indiana Fever] [6] [WNBA] [7] [Sports Media Watch] [8] [Indiana Fever] [9] [ESPN] [10] [Sports Media Watch]
- The 2025 All-Star Game, with Caitlin Clark's absence due to injury, witnessed a 36% dip in viewership compared to the previous year, underscoring her significant impact on WNBA television ratings.
- Despite the WNBA showcasing more games on major networks this year, a noticeable drop in viewership is observed when Clark is absent, such as the game between the Indiana Fever and Seattle Storm in 2025, which averaged nearly 30% less viewership than the previous year.
