It was the most-watched WNBA game in USA Sports’ WNBA history, beating the record that Clark and the Fever set...one week earlier.Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever broke USA Sports' WNBA viewership record for the second straight week, averaging 1.14 million viewers.
(Michael Hickey/Getty Images)In fact, this is the third time that Clark and the Fever averaged at least one million viewers on USA Sports, starting with their June 16 game against the Toronto Tempo.That was the USA Sports record until the team broke it on July 8.WNBA WANTS A BIGGER STORY THAN CAITLIN CLARK, BUT TV RATINGS KEEP POINTING BACK TO HERThe July 8 game against the Los Angeles Sparks was particularly impressive because it averaged 1.04 million viewers across USA Network and CNBC despite tipping off at 10 p.m.
ET on a Wednesday.It became the first WNBA game with a 10 p.m.
ET start to reach one million viewers.Apparently, that record wasn’t good enough.The Fever-Valkyries audience was up 172% compared to the 2025 WNBA cable average.USA Sports also said it was the second-most-watched WNBA game on cable or streaming this season and the top cable entertainment program of the night.The only WNBA game on cable or streaming to draw more viewers this season was another Fever game.
Indiana’s July 5 matchup against the Las Vegas Aces averaged 1.55 million viewers on ESPN, even though neither Clark nor A’ja Wilson played.That number has been used by some as evidence that the Fever’s television appeal has moved beyond Clark.It has, to a degree.But it didn’t happen by accident.Indiana Fever superstars Sophie Cunningham and Caitlin Clark are arguably the two most popular players in the WNBA.
(NBAE via Getty Images)The Fever can draw viewers without Clark now because Clark turned them into a national television team in the first place.Indiana wasn’t producing seven-figure cable audiences before she arrived.
Not even close.The attention Clark draws is still tied to production, not just her ...