Play video:
Caitlin Clark breaks another women’s basketball record in WNBA debut
Turns out the “Caitlin Clark Effect” definitely translates to the pro game
Caitlin Clark’s debut resulted in a loss for her Indiana Fever, but a big win for the WNBA / Elsa/GettyImages
The WNBA is having a moment, and Caitlin Clark is leading the way. The No. 1 overall pick of the Indiana Fever made her regular season debut on Tuesday night, and while the on-court results for the former Iowa Hawkeye showed that she’ll have to endure a learning curve in her rookie season, the TV ratings proved that by her presence alone, Clark has already catapulted the WNBA to new heights.
ESPN announced that the game between Clark’s Indiana Fever and the Connecticut Sun set a network ratings record that had stood for almost 20 years. The game, which was broadcast on ESPN2, ESPN+ and Disney+, drew an average of over 2.1 million viewers, with a peak of 2.3 million. This marked a huge increase of about 60 percent more viewers than the previous record-holder, a 2004 game that featured the pro debut of Diana Taurasi with the Phoenix Mercury.
Clark’s performance gave glimpses of what has made her the most anticipated rookie in WNBA history, but it also showed that she’ll find the sledding much tougher in the pros than she did in college. Clark led the Fever with 20 points, but she was extremely inefficient in doing so, thanks in large part to the defense of Dijonai Carrington and her Sun teammates, who held Clark to just 5-15 shooting from the floor and 10 turnovers. Clark finished the game with a plus-minus of minus-13 as the Fever lost 92-71.
It may take some time for Clark to turn the Fever into winners, but her impact on the WNBA has already been seismic
Indiana finished last in the Eastern Conference last year, which was what put them in position to draft Clark in the first place. The team’s 13-27 record was the second-worst record in the entire league (and an inverse of the 27-13 record of the Sun), and even that was a drastic improvement over the previous year when the Fever went 5-31.
The Fever haven’t made the playoffs since 2016, but the presence of fellow No. 1 overall pick and 2023 unanimous WNBA Rookie of the Year Aliyah Boston helped Indiana more than double its win total last year, and with Clark now added to the mix, even better things should be in store for the franchise in the near future
Even though Clark and the Fever took their lumps on opening night, the game was still a smashing success for the WNBA and validation of the surge in popularity that women’s basketball has experienced recently. Viewers who tuned in to see Clark may have been disappointed with the outcome, but the fact that so many people watched the first regular season game of the year is a fantastic bellwether for how much room the league has to grow.
The Fever will play their second game tonight, and this one will be an even tougher test, as the defending Eastern Conference champion New York Liberty, led by Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu, come to Indiana for the first game of a home-and-home. Clark’s home debut will no doubt result in a delirious crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, and viewers at home can watch on Amazon Prime to see if she and the Fever can bounce back from their opening night loss.
News
Kate Middleton’s ‘heartbreak’ over William’s decision about their family’s future……
William, 41, and his brother Prince Harry, 39, previously attended Eton College, which broke the tradition of the older generation, including his dad the King, of attending a boarding school in Edinburgh Kate Middleton is “heartbroken” after an “argument” with Prince William over…
Shocking Claim: Queen Camilla & Kate Middleton Rumors Confirmed – Did She Really Do This?
Queen Camilla has become a very popular royal family member. When she and Prince Charles began dating and later married, the public was still outraged with her as she had been Charles’s mistress during his marriage to Princess Diana. However,…
Prince William Views Prince Harry as ‘Background Noise’ Amid Rift Over Explosive Memoir
Prince William is said to consider his brother Prince Harry as “background noise” after the younger brother released an explosive memoir. Prince William is reportedly “keeping his family away” from his brother due to a long-running rift between the pair. (Image:…
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ‘insensitive’ for business ventures amid family turmoil, says royal expert
File image of Britain’s Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attending the Royal Salute Polo Challenge charity match in Wellington, Florida on April 12(Reuters / Marco Bello) Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are facing backlash for their recent business…
Meghan Markle accused of treating California life like ‘prom event’ by ‘setting up’ shows to attend with Prince Harry
A royal expert has accused Meghan Markle of treating her life in Montecito, California like a “prom event,” and Prince Harry like “the prom king.” A royal expert has accused Meghan Markle of treating her life in Montecito, California like a “prom…
Princess Charlotte’s Boss Moment With Prince George Caught on Camera
Princess Charlotte telling Prince George “you need to bow” went viral on TikTok as she was praised for being “such a boss.” The young royal, nine, was seen giving her older brother, who turns 11 this month, some pointed advice on the day of Queen…
End of content
No more pages to load