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Caitlin Clark helps set historic TV ratings in final game of rookie season


Caitlin Clark helps set historic TV ratings in final game of rookie season

The much-touted Caitlin Clark Effect took its final bow in 2024.

Game 2 of the first round playoffs between the Fever and Sun on Wednesday night drew 2.5 million viewers, ESPN said, noting it was the most-watched WNBA game ever broadcast exclusively on cable.

This is the latest data point in games where Clark is statistically drawing significantly larger crowds than was previously thought possible in women's basketball.


Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) possesses the ball in the first half against the Connecticut Sun in game two of the first round of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs at Mohegan Sun Arena.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) possesses the ball in the first half against the Connecticut Sun in game two of the first round of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs at Mohegan Sun Arena. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

Sunday's first game, broadcast on ABC and pitting it against the NFL on Sunday afternoon, a time slot considered a dead zone not only for sports but for all other television programming, drew 1.8 million viewers.

According to Fox executive Michael Mulvihill, regular-season games featuring Clark and the Fever nearly tripled the TV viewership of other WNBA games, averaging 1.178 million viewers compared to 394,000.

By comparison, last year's WNBA Finals between the Aces and Liberty averaged 728,000 viewers.

Still, Clark's WNBA viewership is still rising steeply, peaking in college.

Earlier this year, the college women's national championship game, which pitted Clark's Iowa team against the undefeated South Carolina team coached by Dawn Staley, drew 18.7 million viewers.


DeWanna Bonner #24 of the Connecticut Sun drives against Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever in the fourth quarter of the second game of the first round of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs at Mohegan Sun Arena on September 25, 2024 in Uncasville, Connecticut.
DeWanna Bonner of the Connecticut Sun takes on Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever during the fourth quarter of Game 2 of the first round of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs. Getty Images

Now that Clark has played two full seasons in a row, he can finally get some rest.

When asked what she plans to do with this new free time after the Fever are eliminated by the Sun, Clark said: “I don't know what I'm going to do tomorrow, I don't know what I'm going to do the next day. Maybe play some golf. I'll do this until it gets too cold in Indiana. So I understood that. I’m going to be a professional golfer.”

The LPGA responded succinctly: “Count us in.”

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