REVEALED: Caitlin Clark causes WNBA ratings to fall through the floor as fans turn off after her rookie season ends
Ratings for this season’s WNBA playoffs have plummeted in the wake of Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever elimination last week.
Clark’s rookie season came to an end when the Fever suffered a second straight loss to the Connecticut Sun last Wednesday, a result that dumped them out of the playoffs in the very first round.
A record WNBA audience of 2.54 million watched the 22-year-old’s season come to an end in Connecticut, while a previous record of 1.84 million watched the first game of the series on September 22.
But with Indiana no longer in the league, the first weekend of WNBA playoff games without Clark failed to generate the same interest.
The first semifinal showdown between the New York Liberty and the Las Vegas Aces – two of the league’s most popular and successful teams – drew just 929,000 spectators, according to ESPN (via Fox News).
Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever’s exit from the playoffs have caused the WNBA ratings to drop
That figure is 50 percent lower than the Fever’s Game 1 against the Sun, who also had an NFL Sunday to compete with.
Nevertheless, while it doesn’t match Clark’s numbers, the opening battle of the Liberty and the Aces actually drew more viewers than all of last season’s finals games between the two teams.
Meanwhile, Game 1 of the Minnesota Lynx vs. Connecticut Sun semifinals had a crowd of about 650,000 people.
Both semifinal games were also significantly below some of Clark’s regular season games in terms of viewership; with the Fever clash against the Lynx attracting 1.26 million viewers last month.
That game was also played on the same night and at the same time as a Week 1 NFL showdown between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers.
One of the most successful college athletes of all time, Clark has brought unprecedented attention to women’s basketball since moving to the WNBA this year.
A record WNBA audience of 2.54 million listened to Clark and the Fever’s loss to the Sun
The first semi-final between the Liberty and the Aces was watched by just 929,000 people
She has made the Fever by far the most watched WNBA team, with the 14 largest TV viewers of the season, all involving Indiana.
The former Iowa sensation was recently crowned WNBA Rookie of the Year after an incredible debut season in the major leagues.
She averaged 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and led the league in assists with 8.4 per game. Clark also led the Fever to their first playoff appearance since 2016.
In the season-ending loss to the Sun, the Fever superstar scored 25 points, adding nine assists and six rebounds. She also left with another record after becoming the first rookie ever to go 25-5-5 in the postseason.