Caitlin Clark once again set the bar high for WNBA games as she became one of the only three preseason games since 2010 to have reached viewership of over 1 million. As noted by one analyst, this also meant that Clark almost beat the record that LeBron James is holding for this category.
In stats revealed by ESPN, the preseason exhibition match between the Indiana Fever and the Brazilian National Team averaged 1.3 million viewers, and peaked at 1.6 million viewers. Compared to the overall regular season viewership of ESPN’s coverage for the 2024 season, these numbers are 13% higher.
ESPN’s presentation of Sunday’s preseason #WNBA matchup between the Indiana Fever and the Brazilian National Team averaged 1.3M viewers
🏀 Peak 1.6M
🏀 Up 13% from last year’s reg. season avg. on ESPN pic.twitter.com/milgophfjV— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) May 6, 2025
Additionally, this season’s WNBA countdown averaged 571K viewers, which was 71% higher than what ESPN’s coverage recorded for the countdown during the 2024 season.
As noted by analyst Rebecca Lobo, this preseason game joined the only two other preseason games that reached a million viewership since 2010.
Context: Since 2010, only two NBA preseason games outrated this game.
10/10/18 – Warriors/Lakers @KingJames first game in LA 2.02M
10/10/17 – Bulls/Cavs (Lebron again) 1.37M https://t.co/dMZnPzypdn
— Rebecca Lobo (@RebeccaLobo) May 6, 2025
In 2017, the preseason game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Chicago Bulls, at a time when Lebron James and Dwyane Wade had their dynamic duo over at the Cavs. In 2018, LeBron james once more garnered millions to watch his preseason game, this time when he made his debut with the Los Angeles Lakers. The game recorded 2.02 million viewers.
Caitlin Clark has been a viewership phenomenon since her college days at Iowa, where she shattered records and drew unprecedented audiences to women’s basketball. Her games consistently ranked among the most-watched in NCAA history, culminating in the 2024 NCAA championship game, which outperformed the men’s final in viewership—a first in college basketball history.
Since transitioning to the WNBA, Clark’s impact on viewership has only grown. Her games with the Indiana Fever have consistently drawn record-breaking audiences, with 41 of their 44 regular-season games in 2025 set to be nationally televised—a WNBA record.
Caitlin Clark Keeps Record of Most-Watched WNBA Draft Night
The 2024 WNBA Draft, headlined by Caitlin Clark, remains the most-watched draft night in league history, despite the excitement surrounding the 2025 draft and the arrival of Paige Bueckers. Clark’s selection by the Indiana Fever drew an average of 2.45 million viewers, a staggering number that shattered previous records and set a new benchmark for women’s basketball viewership.
The 2025 WNBA Draft, featuring Bueckers as the No. 1 overall pick to the Dallas Wings, was highly anticipated and still delivered impressive ratings. It averaged 1.25 million viewers, making it the second-most-watched draft in WNBA history.
Bueckers, a national champion and one of the most recognizable faces in women’s basketball, brought significant attention to the event. However, her draft night couldn’t quite match the spectacle of Caitlin Clark, which had set a nearly impossible standard.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
