Caitlin Clark's Star Power Nearly Breaks ESPN Viewership Record for Preseason Game

American Basketball player Caitlin Clark continues to be a ratings juggernaut. In a recent Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) preseason matchup between the Indiana Fever and the Brazilian national team, played at Clark’s alma mater, the University of Iowa, ESPN drew an average of 1.3 million viewers, coming just shy of its all-time record for a women’s basketball preseason game.

According to ESPN’s vice president of research Flora Kelly, only two of the 57 National Basketball Association (NBA) games the network has aired since 2010 have matched or exceeded that number, both involving LeBron James. Clark's influence on viewership is already rivaling the biggest names in sports. Her impact isn't limited to just one game. During her rookie WNBA season in 2024, the league saw 22 regular-season games top 1 million viewers, something that hadn’t happened since 2008. This surge in attention has redefined what’s possible for the league's broadcast reach.

ESPN’s preseason broadcast benefited from a unique combination of factors: Clark playing a national team on her former college court. Those storylines won’t exist during the regular season. Still, there’s a strong argument that her draw will continue to grow, especially as more young stars like Angel Reese (Chicago Sky) and Paige Bueckers (Dallas Wings) enter the league.

Clark’s impact on WNBA viewership is already historic. In 2024, 20 of the 23 WNBA games that averaged over 1 million viewers featured the Indiana Fever. The trend extends beyond regular games, the 2025 WNBA Draft drew 1.25 million viewers (second only to Clark’s own draft class in 2024), and the 2024 All-Star Game shattered its previous record with 3.44 million viewers, up from the prior high of 1.44 million in 2003. Just two seasons into her professional career, Clark has become the undeniable face of the league. While that may be a point of contention for some longtime fans or WNBA veterans, the numbers are hard to argue with. Caitlin Clark is not just growing the game, she's redefining its reach and relevance.

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