The Indiana Fever's star power continues to shine, even when their leading player, Caitlin Clark, is absent. The team's recent games have been drawing impressive viewership numbers, proving that the Fever's success is not solely reliant on Clark's presence. This is particularly interesting given the league's historical struggle to attract a wide audience.
One notable game was the Fever-Sparks match on Wednesday, which averaged 1.04 million viewers across USA Network and CNBC. This was the network's highest audience of the season and the largest late-night regular season audience in the league's history. The game's success is even more remarkable considering it was Clark's return after a two-week absence.
The Fever's popularity is not limited to Clark's games. Four of the six most-watched games this season have featured the Fever, and all of them involved Clark. This trend is a continuation of the team's success during Clark's injury-plagued sophomore season, when non-Clark Fever games still attracted a larger audience than the rest of the league.
The Fever's recent success is a testament to the team's overall appeal and the growing interest in women's basketball. The team's ability to draw a large audience, even without Clark, is a significant achievement and a positive sign for the league's future.
The WNBA's overall viewership is also on the rise, with ESPN and ABC averaging 1.3 million viewers for WNBA games as of last Sunday, a 6% increase from the previous year. The league's newcomer, USA Sports, is also performing well, averaging 512,000 viewers for its games, a 22% increase from last year's average on cable.
The Fever's success and the league's overall growth are a positive development for women's sports and a sign that the audience is warming up to the game. However, it remains to be seen whether this trend will continue and whether the league can maintain its current level of popularity.
