For those who don’t believe in the so-called “Caitlin Clark effect”, we’ve got news for you.
The face of the WNBA missed five games with a quad strain she suffered during the Indiana Fever-New York Liberty game on May 24. Her absence was an astronomical loss for the WNBA, too.
On June 11, USA Today reported that WNBA ratings dropped by 55 percent after Caitlin Clark was sidelined. It was noted that Fever games with Clark averaged 1.81 million viewers, but only 847,000 for nationally televised games during her absence.
Clark returned on Saturday to lead Indiana past the previously undefeated Liberty, tallying 32 points, eight rebounds and nine assists in the 102-88 victory. And sure enough, Clark’s return to the court sent WNBA ratings through the roof again.
On Tuesday morning, ESPN announced that the Fever-Liberty game on Saturday averaged 2.2 million viewers, peaking at 2.8 million. This was also a 76-percent increase from the average viewership for 2024 WNBA regular-season games on ABC.
The @IndianaFever's victory over the @nyliberty on Saturday delivered the 3rd most-watched WNBA game on ABC EVER 👏
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) June 17, 2025
🏀 2.2M avg. viewers (2.8M peak)
🏀 WNBA on ESPN up 14% from last season pic.twitter.com/noWzK8RIFf
Unfortunately, Clark’s injury also led to a giant drop in ticket prices for the highly anticipated Indiana-Chicago Sky game at the United Center on June 7. The Sky play their home games at Wintrust Arena, but the United Center (home of the Chicago Bulls) was selected for what was supposed to be a marquee showdown between Clark and Angel Reese.
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The get-in price for Angel Reese’s Chicago Sky vs. Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever game on June 7 was $86 just 48 hours ago… now it’s down to $25 after Clark’s injury announcement
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 27, 2025
(Via @TickPick ) pic.twitter.com/AbulnaNG7v
Through her first five games of 2025, the 23-year-old Clark is averaging 21.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 9.2 assists per game.
Caitlin Clark Looks To Help Fever Climb Back Up The WNBA Standings
Entering action on Tuesday, the Fever are 5-5 and in a three-way tie with the Golden State Valkyries and Las Vegas Aces for sixth in the league standings. The top eight teams make the postseason, but Indiana remains just 2.5 games behind the Atlanta Dream for the No. 3 seed.
Also Read: VIDEO: Caitlin Clark Slammed For Her Actions During Comeback Win Over Liberty
