WNBA Draft pulls in record viewing figures as average of 2.45 MILLION watch Caitlin Clark get picked by Indiana… quadruple last year and more than last seven years COMBINED
Caitlin Clark’s WNBA Draft has shattered the ratings after an average of 2.45 million fans watched her being selected by the Indiana Fever.
Clark is a superstar in college basketball, and she will now take her talents to the WNBA after being selected No. 1 overall on Monday night in Brooklyn.
The event was televised and shown live on ESPN, with an all-female panel guiding basketball fans through the picks.
Now it has emerged that an average of 2.45 million people tuned in, which is quadruple last year’s figures, and more than the last seven draft nights combined.
It’s also the first time the WNBA Draft has attracted more than 1 million viewers, and according to reports, it will also soar past the TV ratings of the MLB and NHL drafts in 2023.
Caitlin Clark was selected first overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever on Monday
Millions of fans watched Clark’s big moment as she beamed while wearing Prada
Last year’s WNBA Draft also saw the Indiana Fever pick first with Aliyah Boston as their selection, but there has been a lot more hype surrounding Clark this time around.
After becoming the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer in her senior season, she and Iowa narrowly missed March Madness glory, losing to South Carolina in the national championship.
That said, it was no surprise to see Clark take the stage first Monday night, holding up her Indiana Fever jersey ahead of a highly anticipated first season as a pro.
The 22-year-old is expected to make her competitive debut on May 14 against the Connecticut Sun
Fans were shocked to find out how much money she would make in her debut season, after it was revealed that her contract will only pay $76,535.
Super Bowl winner Justin Reid called it a “robbery” on his social media, while other fans compared the amount to a “Draymond Green fine.”
She will of course rake in a lot more money from endorsements, and she already has big NIL deals from her time at university.
Clark’s Fever jersey also sold out very quickly, becoming Fanatics’ all-time bestseller on draft night – wiping out the stock within just two hours of being selected.