Caitlin Clark was out for five games with a quad strain. Then she came back-and so did the millions of fans.
In her return on Saturday, the No. 1 overall pick didn’t just light up the scoreboard with 32 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists. She also helped the Indiana Fever beat the New York Liberty 102-88 and sparked one of the most-watched WNBA games ever on ABC.
On Tuesday, ESPN released the numbers: 2.2 million average viewers, peaking at 2.8 million, making it the third most-watched WNBA game on ABC in history. For context, WNBA broadcasts on ESPN platforms are up 14% from last year-ABC broadcasts? Up a whopping 76%.
Clark Misses Five Games, and Ticket Prices-and Hype-Drop Fast
When Clark was sidelined, it didn’t just impact the Fever’s performance-it cooled off national attention. For example, ticket prices for the highly anticipated matchup against Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky fell nearly 71% after Clark was ruled out, according to TickPick.
But when she’s playing, everything changes. Back on opening day, Clark’s WNBA debut against the Sky drew over 2.1 million viewers–the most-watched WNBA game in ESPN history, per Sports Media Watch.
Her long-range shooting and fearless playstyle are a huge part of the draw. She’s now shooting 36.7% from three this season, up from her already impressive 34.7% career average. Against the Liberty, she nailed seven threes on 14 attempts-many of them launched from near the logo.
“She’s bringing a new level of excitement,” said ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo. “You can feel it in the building, on TV, and across the league.”
The WNBA has momentum, and Caitlin Clark is right at the center of it. Her return is more than a headline-it’s a signal that the league’s growth isn’t just coming. It’s already here.
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