Caitlin Clark’s out- and so are the fans: Fever’s early playoff exit sparks WNBA viewership nosedive

The WNBA playoffs haven’t captured fans’ interest since the Indiana Fever were eliminated.

Rookie Caitlin Clark during an Indiana Fever game in the 2024 WNBA...

The WNBA has witnessed a significant drop in viewership following the early playoff exit of the Indiana Fever and rookie sensation Caitlin Clark.

Known for her record-breaking performances both on and off the court, Clark’s presence in the league has drawn massive audiences, a fact underscored by the sharp contrast in ratings since her departure from the playoffs.

WNBA’s shocking viewership decline after Caitlin Clark’s exit

Clark’sIndiana Fever was eliminated by the Connecticut Sun after two highly watched games.

Game 2, in particular, was historic, setting a cable record with 2.54 million viewers, surpassing even NFL broadcasts in some markets.

With Clark off the court, however, playoff ratings have plummeted, leaving a noticeable gap in fan engagement.

For context, Game 1 of the highly anticipated series between the defending champion Las Vegas Aces and the New York Liberty, which should have been a marquee matchup, drew just 929,000 viewers-less than half of Clark’s last game.

Even the Minnesota Lynx vs. Connecticut Sun series struggled to reach 650,000 viewers, a sharp decline compared to the high numbers Clark’s games consistently pulled in during the regular season.

Clark changed the game for the WNBA

Clark’s impact during her rookie year was undeniable.

She led the Fever to become the most-watched team in the league, with all of the top 14 highest-rated games featuring her.

Even regular-season matchups involving Clark drew more attention than the current playoff games.

For instance, her game against the Washington Mystics on September 19 set a WNBA single-game attendance record with over 20,000 fans in attendance.

On TV, the Fever-Lynx game in early September drew 1.26 million viewers, despite competing with an NFL broadcast.

With Caitlin Clark’s playoff exit, the WNBA faces a challenging viewership landscape.

Despite the ongoing excitement of teams like the Aces, Liberty, and Sun, the absence of Clark has left a void that seems difficult to fill.

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Clark’s breakout season has undoubtedly cemented her as a transformative figure in women’s basketball, and her absence has highlighted just how significant her impact truly was.

As the WNBA continues through the playoffs without its biggest star, questions remain about how the league can sustain the momentum that Caitlin Clark brought to the game.