The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
WNBA team likely to draft Clark No. 1 scheduled to be on TV a lot
NEW YORK — Call it the Caitlin Clark effect.
The WNBA will show 36 of the Indiana Fever’s 40 games on its national broadcast and streaming partners, starting with the season opener at Connecticut on May 14. Last season, the Fever had only 22 of their games shown nationally.
The Fever, who are expected to take Clark first in the WNBA draft Monday, will appear eight times across ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 as well as eight times on ION and twice on CBS. In addition the Fever will be highlighted 13 times on NBA TV, four times on Prime Video and once on CBS Sports Network.
Clark helped the NCAA get record TV ratings, including 18.9 million that watched the NCAA title game.
“With the energy and excitement already generated by what we anticipate
Caitlin Clark is expected to be drafted No. 1 overall by the Indiana Fever in the WNBA draft Monday. will be a star-studded rookie class, and on the heels of a 2023 season that featured one of the greatest MVP races in WNBA history and our most-watched regular season in over two decades, the WNBA’s broadcast and streaming partners are offering a huge national platform that will showcase the league’s superstars, rising stars, rivalries and a newly reconfigured WNBA Commissioner’s Cup,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said.
The WNBA just had its most-watched season in 21 years, averaging 462,000 viewers per game across ABC, ESPN and CBS. The league also had its mostwatched Finals in 20 years that featured Las Vegas and New York. It was up 36% from the previous season. The league has its TV deal expiring at the end of next year and that could lead to a massive new contract for the WNBA.
Besides the excitement around Indiana and Clark, the league is showcasing two-time defending champion Las Vegas. The Aces are looking to become the first team to win three titles in a row since Houston took the first four titles from 19972000. The Aces will make the second-most appearances on national TV with 35.