Caitlin Clark has taken the basketball world by storm, but her meteoric rise has also revealed a huge problem for the WNBA. Sure, Clark’s thrilling style of play is pulling in millions of viewers and breaking records, but the ugly truth? When she’s not on the court, the league’s viewership plummets.
Clark is single-handedly shattering barriers—just look at the numbers. Her playoff games have gone head-to-head with the NFL and come out victorious. In one game against the Fever, Clark’s performance drew a whopping 2.54 million viewers. The same matchup without her? Barely scratched 650,000. That’s a staggering 70% drop-off!
And it’s not just Clark’s charm that’s stealing the show—her influence is undeniable. The WNBA’s other marquee players—Asia Wilson, Breanna Stewart, and Kelsey Plum—can’t seem to break a million viewers, even in prime-time matchups. It’s a painful reminder that despite the league’s growing popularity, no one moves the needle like Clark.
It’s clear: Caitlin Clark IS the WNBA. Sure, the league boasts some incredible talent, but when Clark isn’t on the screen, fans just aren’t tuning in. Even Angel Reese, with her passionate fanbase, doesn’t have the same pull. Remember those iconic college games? Three of the six most-watched games in women’s basketball history had one thing in common—Caitlin Clark.
While players like Wilson and Stewart are all-time greats, they lack Clark’s transcendent marketing power. The fact that the WNBA has failed to capitalize on this is shocking—Nike even prioritized Wilson’s signature shoe over Clark’s. A rookie mistake reminiscent of choosing Kareem over Michael Jordan back in the day.
The data doesn’t lie: Clark’s games are must-see TV, while the rest of the WNBA struggles to capture attention. With her rookie season behind her, the league’s biggest challenge moving forward is clear—how to make the WNBA more than just “The Caitlin Clark Show.”
As the WNBA gears up for year two of Clark’s career, the spotlight remains firmly on her. Will the league rise with her, or will they continue to struggle in her shadow? Buckle up—Caitlin Clark is the future, but the WNBA needs to catch up fast!
