REVEALED: “Caitlin Clark’s Absence Leads to WNBA Ratings Drop as Fans Tune Out After Her Rookie Season”

TV ratings for this season’s WNBA playoffs have taken a sharp dip following the elimination of Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever last week.

Clark’s impressive rookie season came to a disappointing end when the Fever lost their second consecutive game to the Connecticut Sun last Wednesday, knocking them out in the first round. The game attracted a record-breaking WNBA audience of 2.54 million, while the series opener on September 22 saw 1.84 million viewers tune in.

However, with Clark and Indiana out of the playoffs, viewer interest has noticeably waned. The semifinal clash between two of the league’s powerhouse teams, the New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces, drew only 929,000 viewers, according to ESPN (via Fox News).

Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever’s playoff exit has caused WNBA ratings to plummet

That figure is 50 per cent down on the Fever’s Game 1 against the Sun, which also had an NFL Sunday to compete with.

Nevertheless, while it is no match for the numbers generated by Clark, the Liberty and the Aces’ opening semifinal battle actually brought in more viewers than any of last season’s finals games between the two teams.

Meanwhile, Game 1 of the Minnesota Lynx and the Connecticut Sun’s semifinal had an audience of roughly 650,000.

Both of the semifinal games also fell significantly below a number of Clark’s regular season games in terms of viewership; with the Fever’s clash against the Lynx raking in 1.26 million viewers last month.

That game was also played on the same night and at the same time as a Week 1 NFL showdown between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers.

Clark, one of the most successful college athletes of all time, has brought unprecedented levels of attention to women’s basketball since moving up to the WNBA this year.

A record WNBA audience of 2.54 million tuned in for Clark and the Fever’s loss to the Sun

The first semifinal showdown between the Liberty and the Aces was watched by just 929,000

Caitlin Clark has turned the Indiana Fever into the WNBA’s most-watched team by a significant margin, with the 14 highest TV audiences of the season all featuring the Fever.

The former Iowa star was recently named WNBA Rookie of the Year after an outstanding debut season. Clark averaged 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and led the league with 8.4 assists per game. Her leadership also helped the Fever secure their first playoff berth since 2016.

In the season-ending loss to the Connecticut Sun, Clark showcased her talent once more, scoring 25 points, dishing out nine assists, and grabbing six rebounds. She made history by becoming the first rookie to record a 25-5-5 stat line in a postseason game.