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
News
What Caitlin Clark & Lexie Hull Just Did in Loss to Lynx Makes Indiana Fever a BIG Playoff PROBLEM
What Caitlin Clark & Lexie Hull Just Did in Loss to Lynx Makes Indiana Fever a BIG Playoff PROBLEM Indiana Fever: Un Rival Temido y el Poder…
Breaking News: The next rookie of the year JuJu Watkins said “She got Angel Reese beating Caitlin Clark for rookie of the year”. Looks like it’s gonna be Close.
The Next Rookie of the Year? JυJυ Watkins Predicts a Tight Race Betweeп Aпgel Reese and Caitliп Clark In the ever-competitive world of women’s basketball, the anticipation…
Shocking News: Angel Reese Surprises Season Ending Amidst ROY Award Race With Caitlin Clark For Unexpected Reason/wan
Reese’s incredible rookie season in the WNBA has come to a close. On Friday evening, the Chicago Sky forward took to social media to announce she’s suffered…
Caitlin Clark JUST OBLITERATED Michael Jordan’s Records, THIS IS MASSIVE!/wan
Caitlyn Clark is making waves in the WNBA by breaking records once held by basketball legends, including Michael Jordan. As a rookie, Clark has already made a…
NaLyssa Smith Reveals Things Even Coach Christie Sides Didn’t Know About Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell/wan
Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell have been the driving force for the Indiana Fever, who, following the Olympic break, have become one of the WNBA’s best teams….
Dave Portnoy’s Massive $50,000 Caitlin Clark, Fever Bet Pays Off//wan
The Indiana Fever pulled off the upset win over the Connecticut Sun, winning the contest 84-80. However, Dave Portnoy of Barstool Sports might be the biggest winner from…
End of content
No more pages to load