SHE IS STILL HER. If you needed more proof of why Caitlin Clark is the face of the WNBA in her second year, look no further than Sunday's preseason matchup against the Brazilian National Team.
Clark and the Indiana Fever traveled to Iowa City on Sunday in a highly anticipated matchup with Brazil. When the tickets for the contest went on sale on February 27, they were sold out in under an hour.
15,000 screaming fans packed Carver-Hawkeye Arena as the Fever crushed the Brazilian National team 108-44. The massive crowds for Clark are expected, but what was not expected was the television viewership for a preseason game.
After Clark's return to Iowa City, ESPN reported the game averaged 1.3 million viewers. According to Flora Kelly, ESPN's Vice President of Research, only two of 57 NBA preseason games since 2010 had more viewers. Those games featured NBA superstar LeBron James.
ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED??
The "Caitlin Clark Effect" has been well-documented since she entered the WNBA. During May 2024, around 400,000 fans attended WNBA games, making it the most attended opening month in 26 years.
During the 2024 season, the four major networks airing WNBA games (ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, and CBS), saw an average of 1.32 million viewers, nearly tripling from 2023. Six networks set viewership records when they aired Indiana Fever Games.
The "Caitlin Clark Effect" has also helped increase jersey and merchandise sales. Since Clark joined the WNBA, merchandise sales have increased by 236 percent.
Ahead of the 2025 season, the WNBA is trying to cash in on Clark's popularity. The league announced the Indiana Fever will play in 41 nationally televised games this upcoming season, a WNBA record.
Teams are also moving games against the Indiana Fever to bigger arenas to accommodate more fans. For example, two Chicago Sky home games against the Fever moved to the United Center in Chicago to allow more fans to attend. The United Center can hold 23,500 fans.
Clark continues moving the needle for women's basketball and women's sports overall. She is the face of the WNBA and one of the biggest athletes in all sports. Love or hate her, but Clark is changing the landscape of women's professional sports.