Caitlin Clark Returns with a Spectacle in a Historic WNBA Game
Caitlin Clark’s return to the court on Saturday, after a five-game absence due to injury, marked a milestone for the WNBA, becoming the third most-watched game in ESPN history on ABC.
The Indiana Fever star, who had been sidelined since May 24 due to a left quadriceps strain, dazzled with an outstanding performance. Clark scored 32 points, her season high, including seven three-pointers. In addition, she grabbed eight rebounds and dished out nine assists, leading her team to a 102-88 victory against the previously undefeated New York Liberty in Indianapolis.
The Fever’s victory against the current WNBA champions drew an average of 2.2 million viewers, with a peak of 2.8 million, according to Nielsen data released Tuesday.
This average represents a 76 percent increase compared to the previous season’s average viewership for WNBA games on ABC. So far in 2025, viewership has increased by 15 percent across all ESPN platforms.
Clark, 23, averages 21.6 points, 9.2 assists, and 6.4 rebounds, with a 3-point shooting percentage of 36.7% in his five starts this season.
The first overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, coming from Iowa, was awarded All-Star, All-WNBA, and Rookie of the Year honors last season.
