How Caitlin Clark absence affected WNBA viewership figures for play-offs
The WNBA enjoyed record viewership for the 2023 playoffs despite Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever being eliminated in the first round of the postseason
The absence of Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever from the rest of the WNBA playoffs has significantly affected viewing figures, yet the league still has reason to celebrate.
Friday's playoff semifinal Game 1 between the New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces drew an average viewership of 929,000 in the US, peaking at 1.2 million. These numbers represent a 60 per cent increase from 2023, underscoring the league's escalating popularity even without its biggest star on the court.
Clark, the No. 1 overall pick, has had a transformative impact on the league, as evidenced by the massive audiences that tuned in for the Fever's Round 1 playoff matches against the Connecticut Sun.
Fans flocked in droves to watch the former Iowa sensation pursue championship glory in her rookie season.
Game 1 of the series set a new WNBA record with a viewership of 1.84 million, a benchmark that was shattered just days later for Game 2 when a staggering audience of 2.54 million viewers tuned in. Despite this, the Fever lost both games, ending Clark's rookie season.
However, the 22 year old's fame continues to have a positive effect, even during her offseason at home, with mainstream interest in the league increasing. But it's undeniable that Clark is the one who can truly shift the needle, as evidenced by Sunday's Game 1 between the Sun and the Minnesota Lynx, which attracted a viewership of just 650,000.
Kelsey Mitchell, Clark's teammate at the Fever, credits the point guard with transforming the lives of WNBA players. Speaking last month about the surge in interest in the WNBA, Mitchell said: "I think the reality of it is that I don't think people would know without [Clark]."
Mitchell added that she finds the situation amusing, yet also welcomes the attention, having previously kept a low profile. "She's done an unbelievable job of bringing her own fans and people that support her, but, for me, I kind of laugh at it and I embrace it at the same time because I always flew under the radar. I've always kind of been that person that is very conservative, very introvert, so now I get to see the flip side of it."
Clark, the first overall pick in April's draft, had a remarkable collegiate career with the Hawkeyes. After a slow start with the Fever, going 1-8, the team found its footing and finished third in the Eastern Conference with a 20-20 record.
Clark's impressive stats earned her the WNBA Rookie of the Year award, with 19.2 points per game (seventh in the league), 8.4 assists per game (league leader), and 3.1 three-pointers made per game (also a league high).
