The WNBA announced the remarkable achievements of its 2026 season with substantial increases in television audiences and attendance. Notably, games featuring Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever consistently attracted the largest television viewership across multiple platforms.
Record-Breaking Viewership
Clark’s influence on television ratings is evident, with major networks including ABC, CBS, ESPN, ION, NBC, Peacock, USA Network, and Amazon Prime Video achieving their highest regular-season audiences during Fever games. For instance, the Indiana–Chicago game on NBC and Peacock on August 23 attracted 3.31 million viewers, the largest audience since the WNBA’s inaugural season in 1997.
Other significant viewership records include:
- ESPN’s Indiana–Atlanta game on August 16, drawing 2.6 million viewers, breaking cable television viewership records for the WNBA.
- CBS’s Indiana–New York match on July 18, with 2.58 million viewers, marking CBS’s most-watched WNBA game.
- ABC’s Indiana–Chicago game on August 8 attracting 2.56 million viewers, their biggest audience of the season.
Each of these games demonstrates the immense draw of Clark and the Fever as the top audience pullers.
Indiana Fever’s Influence
Beyond the major broadcast networks, Indiana’s games also excelled on streaming services and cable. ION’s Indiana–Dallas game on August 14 boasted 1.62 million viewers, and Prime Video’s August 20 match saw 1.07 million. Networks found substantial success by incorporating Fever games into their schedules. With Caitlin Clark playing, viewership consistently flourished.
League Wide Viewership Growth
The WNBA also experienced overall growth in viewership. In 2026, 51 regular-season broadcasts exceeded one million viewers, a substantial increase from 19 in the previous year. Nine games surpassed two million viewers compared to four in 2025. Notably, non-Fever games on ESPN and ABC grew, averaging 984,000 viewers, up 24% from 2025.
Building Long-Term Interest
While the Fever and Clark attracted initial interest, the broader WNBA continues to benefit, as evidenced by increased viewership for games not involving Indiana. It remains a strategic focus for the league to convert these viewers into ongoing supporters.
The league’s success story highlights the transformative effect of Caitlin Clark since her entry in 2024, with ESPN’s average viewership rising from 440,000 in 2023 to 1.2 million in 2024.
As the 2026 season concludes, the WNBA leverages these successes to promote its television achievements, continually aiming to expand its audience base.