Caitlin Clark has become a trending topic following ESPN’s recent WNBA announcement. Despite Clark and the Indiana Fever being eliminated from the WNBA playoffs after a first-round loss to the Connecticut Sun, the league continues to draw significant attention. Many believed that the playoffs would see a drop in viewership after Clark’s exit, given her star power throughout the season.
However, ESPN PR revealed that the Las Vegas Aces vs. New York Liberty semifinal game was the most-watched WNBA semifinal in 22 years. The Liberty’s 87-77 win averaged 929,000 viewers and peaked at 1.2 million.
Following the announcement, some fans attributed the high viewership to the “Caitlin Clark effect,” with some suggesting her popularity had a residual impact on the ratings. Others pushed back, highlighting that the league remained popular even without Clark. Fans chimed in on social media, with one questioning the ratings for the other semifinal game between Minnesota and Connecticut. Another mocked Clark’s supporters, claiming they expected a significant drop in viewership after her departure.
One fan admitted that they initially started watching because of Clark but continued following the league beyond just her games. Sunday’s WNBA playoff games without Clark managed to draw 800,000 viewers, marking a 176% increase compared to the same games last year, even with NFL competition. Although Clark’s Fever brought in 1.8 million viewers during their last playoff game, fans acknowledged that the WNBA can still thrive without her.
Clark had an impressive 2024 season, helping the Fever return to the playoffs for the first time since 2016. However, even in her absence, the Aces and Liberty, featuring prominent players like A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, and Sabrina Ionescu, have continued to attract large audiences. As the Fever regroup for the 2025 season, the Aces and Liberty are vying for a spot in the WNBA championship, with the Liberty seeking revenge after losing to Las Vegas in last year’s finals. Stewart led New York to a Game 1 victory, scoring 34 points, and the team will aim to extend their series lead in Game 2.
