When the Indiana Fever selected Caitlin Clark with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, they knew things were going to change for their franchise. Unprecedented attention was about to be brought to the team, as Clark is one of the biggest stars in the basketball world and easily the biggest currently in women’s basketball.
After her record-setting career at Iowa, Caitlin Clark has already led to some improvements being made in the WNBA. Chartered flights are becoming a thing and her presence is a major reason why.
More eyes than ever are being brought to women’s basketball and she’s a driving force behind it. Drawing huge crowds is nothing new for Caitlin Clark, as Iowa games were always packed and millions of people watched them play on television.
The Elite Eight matchup between Iowa and LSU was one of the most viewed sporting events in recent history. In the championship game between Iowa and South Carolina, a record 18.7 million viewers were averaged by ESPN.
That viewership has not stopped, as the Indiana Fever is now a huge draw. When they are going on the road, opponents are looking for bigger arenas to host games in as people want to see Caitlin Clark play.
On Tuesday night, the Fever traveled to take on the Connecticut Sun. They sold out a home opener for the first time in 21 years, the last time being the franchise’s first-ever home game. People who couldn’t get tickets to the game tuned in on television, setting ESPN viewership records.
The debut of Caitlin Clark drew 2.1 viewers across their platforms, which is the most for a WNBA game on ESPN. The numbers peaked at 2.3 million, making this the most viewed game since the Los Angeles Sparks and Houston Comets drew 2.45 million viewers on Memorial Day in 2021.
The numbers for Tuesday night are truly shocking given the lopsided outcome. The Indiana Fever wasn’t even very competitive, losing the game 92-71. Caitlin Clark was in foul trouble early and struggled to find a rhythm.
She ended the game with 20 points and 10 turnovers, yet everyone was still glued to their devices watching her play. That is going to be the case throughout the season, as the Indiana Fever is on national television in 36 out of their 40 regular season games. Numbers like that could start to become normal, as everyone wants to see Caitlin Clark play.
Do you want the latest news, updates, and rumors surrounding all sports? Click here. Make sure to check out our sister sites as well: NFL Analysis Network, NBA Analysis Network, Packers Coverage.
