Caitlin Clark’s 2024 WNBA regular season debut with the Indiana Fever drew unparalleled attention, marking a historic moment in the WNBA. The Fever’s opening night game against the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday became the most-watched WNBA game in nearly 23 years, averaging 2.12 million viewers on ESPN2 and an additional 13,000 on ESPN Deportes. The remarkable viewership surpasses any game since the Los Angeles Sparks faced the Houston Comets on Memorial Day 2001, which drew 2.44 million viewers. It was also the WNBA's top audience ever on cable.
Clark’s much-anticipated debut was a major factor in attracting such a large audience. The Fever guard, known for her electrifying college career at Iowa, brought a new level of excitement to the league. The game, which saw the Fever fall to the Sun 92-71, also ranked third among all sporting events that night, only trailing the NBA Playoffs matchups on TNT between the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks, and the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets, as reported by Jon Lewis of Sports Media Watch.
While Clark’s debut game generated significant viewership, it did not significantly impact the ratings of other major sporting events that evening. The NBA Playoffs continued to draw robust audiences, with Pacers-Knicks averaging 4.88 million and Timberwolves-Nuggets averaging 4.51 million viewers. In comparison, the NHL Stanley Cup playoff game between the Bruins and Panthers on ESPN drew 1.99 million viewers, slightly trailing Clark’s WNBA debut in total viewership but leading in the adults 18-49 demographic.
Other Caitlin Clark viewership records
The record-breaking debut follows another historic broadcast earlier in the year. The 2024 WNBA Draft shattered previous records, drawing an average of 2.446 million viewers on ESPN, a 307% increase from the previous year. This surge in viewership underscores the growing popularity of women’s basketball, driven by the emergence of stars like Clark, Cameron Brink and Angel Reese.
The previous high for a WNBA game on ESPN networks was set by Diana Taurasi’s debut against the Sun in 2004, which attracted 1.43 million viewers. Clark’s debut not only exceeded this mark but also highlighted the league’s increasing appeal. Clark’s presence has significantly boosted the Fever’s national exposure, with the team scheduled to have 36 of their 40 games nationally televised this season.
The 2024 WNBA Draft’s record viewership is part of a broader trend of growing interest in women’s basketball. The April 7 NCAA championship game between South Carolina and Iowa drew 18.9 million viewers, making it the most-watched women’s college basketball game in history. Throughout the tournament, the average viewership per game was 2.2 million, the highest since ESPN acquired exclusive rights in 1996.
The extraordinary level of audience engagement reflects a significant shift in the landscape of women’s sports. The WNBA, riding on the coattails of Caitlin Clark’s debut and the immense popularity of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament, is poised for a season of record-breaking viewership and growing fan engagement.
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