Caitlin Clark Boosts WNBA Ratings After Olympics

The WNBA has seen a resurgence in viewership following the Olympic break, particularly due to the return of star player Caitlin Clark. The Indiana Fever marked their comeback with impressive victories, defeating the Phoenix Mercury 98-89 and the Seattle Storm 92-75 over the weekend. Despite lower-than-expected ratings for the women's basketball gold medal game during the Olympics, Clark's presence has reinvigorated interest in the league. The Fever's games garnered significant attention, with the matchup against the Storm achieving the second-highest viewership in WNBA history on ION, only surpassed by a previous game featuring Clark. The game attracted an average of 2.2 million viewers, making it the fourth-largest audience for a WNBA game in the last two decades. This surge in viewership indicates a strong fanbase eager to engage with the league, even as the NFL season approaches. As the NFL kicks off its season, the Fever faces a challenging schedule, with four regular-season games coinciding with football matchups. The first NFL Sunday will see the Fever play at 4:00 p.m. ET, directly competing with the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles game. However, local fans may still have the opportunity to support both teams, as the Indianapolis Colts play earlier in the day. Despite the tough competition from the NFL, the excitement surrounding Caitlin Clark and the Fever suggests that WNBA viewership may remain robust, as fans continue to rally around the league's rising star.