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Love her or hate her, Caitlin Clark is the reason fans tuned in to watch a WNBA game for the first time ever in 2024. Clark made a significant impact on the league as WNBA Rookie of the Year.

The WNBA’s national TV ratings soared in 2024. A record 41 Indiana Fever games will be nationally televised this season.

Photo of Caitlin Clark

Clark, 23, has been cleared to play on Saturday, June 14, after missing 5 games due to a quadriceps injury. Over 1 million TV viewers are expected to watch the Fever (4-5) take on the undefeated Liberty (9-0) at home on Saturday.

Ironically, the All-Star guard was injured during a game against the defending champions on May 24.

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The referees looked the other way while Liberty guard Natasha Cloud mauled Clark like a pitbull. Cloud fouled Clark multiple times in the game’s final seconds. The Fever lost to the Liberty 90-88.

ESPN predicts the Fever will lose again to the stacked Liberty on Saturday. But Caitlin Clark in a Fever uniform is TV ratings gold.

According to Nielsen ratings, TV viewership plunged 55% during the nearly 3 weeks that Clark was sidelined in street clothes.

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Indiana’s TV ratings dropped a whopping 53% during Clark’s absence. The Fever averaged 1.8 million viewers before Clark was injured.

The WNBA’s ratings plunge was compared to Michael Jordan retiring from the NBA.

Fox Sports analyst Colin Cowherd said, “Be nice, WNBA players, to the lady that currently has her leg up, because she is giving the league a leg up. Fifty-five percent. That’s Jordan leaving the NBA. That’s what it is. When Jordan left, they lost 50% of their numbers.”

“Fearless” podcast host Jason Whitlock called WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert a clown for saying she “put all these pieces in place” for the league to experience growth in 2024.

“Caitlin Clark disappears with a quad injury and the entire league craters ratings. I think this debate is over,” Whitlock said.