WNBA Faces Significant TV Ratings Decline Amid Caitlin Clark’s Injury

WNBA Faces Significant TV Ratings Decline Amid Caitlin Clark’s Injury

The WNBA is experiencing a notable drop in TV ratings as Caitlin Clark, a star player for the Indiana Fever, remains off the court due to a quadriceps injury.

Clark, who has missed the last five games after sustaining the injury during a narrow 90-88 loss to the New York Liberty, initially faced a recovery timeline of about two weeks. However, as the situation stands, she has not yet received clearance to return for the upcoming game against the Liberty, marking nearly three weeks since her injury occurred.

Impact on the Fever and the WNBA

While Clark’s absence has notably affected the Fever, it has also had repercussions for the WNBA’s overall TV ratings. A recent report from USA Today highlighted a substantial 55% reduction in nationally televised WNBA viewership since Clark’s injury on May 24. Furthermore, games involving the Fever have seen a drop of 53% in viewership.

Analysis of Broadcast Trends

OutKick provided additional insights into these figures, pointing out that during Clark’s four prior games, two were aired on CBS and ABC, while a third was broadcast on NBA TV, and a fourth went unmeasured by Nielsen as it was shown exclusively on Amazon Prime.

In contrast, after Clark’s injury, three out of four Fever games were shown on either NBA TV or ION—a shift that likely contributed to the decline in viewership. Notably, the Fever’s recent matchup against the Chicago Sky attracted an average of 1.92 million viewers, according to announcements from the WNBA.

Viewership Comparisons

This number marks the third-highest viewership for a game carried by CBS. Although it signifies an upswing compared to the network’s average during the regular season, it still reflects a decline from the season opening game between these two teams.

Coaching Insights on Clark’s Recovery

Fever head coach Stephanie White addressed the team’s readiness for Clark’s return during a press conference. While she confirmed that Clark is starting to