Unrivaled Women’s Basketball League Struggles Without Caitlyn Clark: A Harsh Reality Check

The recent debut of the new women’s professional basketball league, Unrivaled, was billed as a major leap for the sport, with Angel Reese as its star player. But after just a few games, the league’s ratings are proving the harsh reality: without Caitlyn Clark, women’s basketball is struggling to keep viewers engaged.

The opening weekend numbers for Unrivaled were disappointing, to say the least. TNT, the network broadcasting the games, touted the ratings as the highest they’ve ever had for women’s basketball. But let’s be honest—those numbers were inflated by novelty and marketing hype, and they don’t paint a pretty picture for the league’s future. According to the stats, the debut games for Unrivaled averaged around 312,000 viewers, which sounds decent until you realize that’s not much more than a typical WNBA game without Clark. And while it’s not catastrophic, it’s far from what they had hoped for.

The real kicker came when viewership dropped dramatically for the second game of the weekend. The ratings plunged from around 312,000 to under 200,000 for the first game on Monday, with the second game barely topping 100,000 viewers. This sharp decline is telling—when Angel Reese, who was hyped as the league’s draw, took to the court, fans seemed to tune out. You’d think Reese, with all her confidence about her popularity, would be able to keep people watching, but it’s clear she isn’t the star many had hoped for.

Angel Reese’s claims about being the face of women’s basketball fell flat as the ratings exposed the truth: without Caitlyn Clark, the spotlight just doesn’t shine as brightly. Reese made waves last year, particularly after her championship game against Iowa, and was soon everywhere—on social media, talk shows, and in the news. She proudly declared that she was just as much a reason people were tuning into women’s basketball as Caitlyn Clark. But as the ratings for Unrivaled show, the reality is stark—without Clark, women’s basketball doesn’t have the same kind of draw.

TNT and other media outlets are trying to spin these disappointing ratings in a positive direction, but the numbers are hard to ignore. At best, the opening weekend viewership was on par with the regular WNBA games that don’t feature Caitlyn Clark. When Clark takes the court, however, the viewership can easily surpass a million, showing the true impact she has on the sport. Without her, leagues like Unrivaled are facing an uphill battle.

Now, let’s put the numbers into context. The debut weekend for Unrivaled garnered about 300,000 viewers on average. While it may seem like a respectable start, it’s not great when compared to the WNBA’s numbers when Caitlyn Clark is involved. During the WNBA playoffs, games featuring Clark pulled in nearly 3 million viewers. The stark contrast between these numbers is difficult to ignore.

But the ratings are just part of the story. What’s happening on the court isn’t much better. In its opening games, Unrivaled failed to impress with its quality of play. Missed layups, sloppy passes, and erratic shooting were all too common. What was promised as a showcase of elite talent turned out to be something less impressive. As one analyst put it, “We need to be more honest with our constructive criticism of women’s basketball,” and the league’s play was definitely in need of a critique. The performances didn’t just miss the mark—they were downright painful to watch at times.

To make matters worse, the league’s struggling viewership and poor on-court performances haven’t gone unnoticed by some of the biggest names in basketball. Draymond Green, a four-time NBA champion, openly mocked the league, saying that after just two seconds of watching, he couldn’t stomach any more and turned it off. If even seasoned basketball pros like Green can’t stick around for more than a couple of seconds, it’s clear the league is in trouble.

Meanwhile, Caitlyn Clark continues to dominate. She is not just a player but an economic powerhouse. In fact, she is responsible for 26% of the WNBA’s economic activity, meaning that nearly one-quarter of the league’s revenue—ticket sales, merchandise, and more—is tied directly to her presence. This level of influence is something Unrivaled desperately lacks. Despite their marketing efforts, the league can’t seem to keep viewers’ attention.

Clark’s absence from Unrivaled is like a glaring hole in the fabric of women’s basketball right now. While Unrivaled is struggling to maintain its viewership, Clark is busy racking up millions of viewers for games that don’t even feature her. This is the Caitlyn Clark effect—her star power is unmatched, and the impact on women’s basketball is undeniable. The contrast between Clark’s influence and the struggles of Unrivaled is becoming more apparent with every passing day.

As Unrivaled works hard to convince fans it’s worth their time, the WNBA is thriving—thanks in large part to Clark’s presence. While Unrivaled scrambles to keep viewers, Clark continues to shine brightly, and it’s becoming increasingly clear that star power is the key to drawing fans. The future of Unrivaled hinges on whether it can find a player capable of captivating audiences the way Caitlyn Clark does.

For now, it seems like Unrivaled is in a race against time. The league’s future depends on its ability to attract the right talent and, crucially, the right star power. Without someone like Clark, it’s tough to imagine the league surviving long-term. Time will tell if they can make it to next season, but unless something changes, Unrivaled might be doomed to fizzle out before it even has a chance to get off the ground. The harsh reality is simple: no Caitlyn Clark, no viewership.