Clark and the Fever have broken audience records
Today, Wednesday July 17, is the last day to see Caitlin Clark in action for an entire month due to the imminent start of the Olympic Games, which will force the WNBA to pause for several weeks as players compete in Paris. Although Caitlin will not be participating in the Olympics -a decision that has sparked significant controversy against the USA team’s head coach, Cheryl Reeve– the impact of the Indiana Fever’s sensational rookie is evident in the numbers.
Many experts are calling it the Caitlin Clark Effect, and it’s not hard to see why. Since 2008, the WNBA hadn’t seen viewership numbers surpassing one million, but the arrival of the fESPN, CBS, ABC, and ION.ormer Iowa star has dramatically changed the game, especially for networks like
Caitlin Clark makes WNBA history with first triple-double by a rookie, fans celebrate wildly
A report from Sports Media Watch revealed the viewership numbers for this WNBA season, highlighting the 15 most-watched games of the year. Out of those, 13 featured the Fever and Clark. The least-watched game of the year, Phoenix vs. Connecticut, still averaged 1.02 million viewers.
In contrast, the most-watched game was the Indiana Fever versus the Chicago Sky, showcasing the rivalry between Caitlin Clark and fellow rookie star Angel Reese, a rivalry that dates back to their college days. This game averaged 2.30 million viewers. Of the top 10 most-watched games of the year, all include Clark and her team.
Most viewed #WNBA games this season
The yellow ones featured Caitlin Clark and the Fever pic.twitter.com/0KWQa6IQd6
— Clark Report (@CClarkReport) July 16, 2024
The Clark effect translates to millions of dollars
These numbers have led the WNBA to sign a new media deal for the next 11 years, worth over two billion dollars, which translates to $200 million per year. This is a significant increase from the previous deal, which only brought in $50 million annually, four times less than the new agreement.
What does this mean for the WNBA and its players? More money from media rights means more funds for both players and teams. Free agents will get deals more suited to their value, and high-caliber rookies like Clark and Angel Reese won’t start their careers earning less than $100,000 annually. Increased revenue for teams could lead to improvements in facilities, benefiting both players and fans.
While Clark isn’t the only star rookie in the WNBA this year (her rival Reese and the sensational Cameron Brink of the Los Angeles Sparks have also captivated the nation), it’s clear that people are filling stadiums to see the all-time leading scorer in college basketball now showcasing her talent at the professional level. Caitlin has become an icon and role model for young girls drawn to basketball, and her best moments are yet to come.
The #WNBA's new media deal will bring in $200 million per year (with the potential for an extra $60 million per year)
Their current deal?
$50 million per yearThe Caitlin Clark Effect pic.twitter.com/gudaq3Avwn
— Clark Report (@CClarkReport) July 17, 2024
