Caitlin Clark’s remarkable ascent in women’s basketball has significantly influenced the WNBA’s broadcasting landscape. For the upcoming 2025 season, the Indiana Fever, featuring Clark, will have an unprecedented 41 of their 44 games nationally televised or streamed, the highest for any team in the league.
The decision to spotlight the Fever aligns with the “Caitlin Clark effect,” a term describing her substantial impact on viewership and fan engagement. During her tenure with the Iowa Hawkeyes, Clark’s performances shattered viewership records. Notably, the 2024 national championship game featuring Clark drew 18.9 million viewers, becoming the most-watched women’s college basketball game in history and surpassing the men’s title game in viewership.
Clark’s transition to the WNBA continued this trend. Her professional debut with the Fever against the Connecticut Sun on May 14, 2024, attracted the largest audience for a WNBA game since 2002. Subsequent games featuring Clark consistently set viewership records across various networks, underscoring her role in elevating the league’s profile.
The Fever’s prominence in the national broadcast schedule has sparked discussions within the WNBA community. While many acknowledge Clark’s drawing power, some players have voiced concerns about the concentration of media attention. Napheesa Collier, a standout player for the Minnesota Lynx, remarked that it’s “kind of crazy” for the Fever to have more nationally televised games than the reigning champions, the New York Liberty, who have 33 such games. Collier emphasized the importance of equitable exposure to promote the league’s overall growth.
Conversely, WNBA legend Lisa Leslie has addressed the critiques, urging players to focus on leveraging the increased visibility to further elevate women’s basketball. Leslie highlighted that Clark’s influence benefits the entire league by attracting new fans and sponsors.
The WNBA’s strategic emphasis on broadcasting Fever games reflects a broader initiative to capitalize on rising stars to boost the league’s visibility and commercial appeal. As the 2025 season approaches, the extensive national coverage of Indiana Fever games is poised to attract a diverse audience, potentially setting new benchmarks for viewership and fan engagement in women’s professional sports.
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