WNBA ratings: How many people watched Caitlin Clark’s debut?
Anticipation on Tuesday was sky-high as Caitlin Clark made her highly WNBA debut for the Indiana Fever who were soundly beaten 92-71 by the Connecticut Sun.
Caitlin Clark is now no stranger to breaking television audience records. Her final with Iowa in this year’s NCAA women’s championship final game against South Carolina on ESPN averaged a record 18.7 million viewers.
The former University of Iowa star was twice named National Player of the Year and set a record for points in college basketball in both the men’s and women’s categories by scoring a total of 3,951, more than any other basketball player in history.
larger than life 😮💨@Gatorade has installed this Caitlin Clark banner on the side of a hotel in downtown Indy 👀 pic.twitter.com/roItKvUej5
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) May 16, 2024
In April this year, Caitlin Clark made the switch and became a professional player in the WNBA when she was selected by Indiana Fever with the number 1 pick in the 2024 Draft.
Her move to the WNBA has been instrumental in driving interest in the league to an all time high with immense global anticipation ahead of her first competitive game in a Fever jersey last Tuesday.
"This is something I've dreamed of since I was a young girl...I'm so lucky I get to do this as my job."
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) May 15, 2024
Caitlin Clark scored 20 points (4 3PM) in her @WNBA debut last night at Connecticut. pic.twitter.com/WW2il5hMxn
US viewership peaked at 2.3 million viewers for the game between the Fever and Connecticut Sun with the Sun winning prevailed 92-71 in front of a sellout crowd at Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut.
Record breaker
The game was the most-watched WNBA game since the Los Angeles Sparks and Houston Comets averaged 2.45 million viewers on NBC for a 2001 Memorial Day contest with the previous most-watched WNBA game on ESPN networks was for the 2004 WNBA debut of Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi, which drew an average of 1.43 million viewers.
Thursday night sees Clark poised to play her first WNBA game at home with another fullhouse expected at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.