The WNBA is experiencing significant growth in popularity, buoyed by rising interest in the league. In a recent episode of the podcast “No Hesitation,” Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham shared her strong views about her All-Star teammate Caitlin Clark’s impact on the league. Cunningham, alongside basketball trainer Drew Hanlan, discussed the transformations witnessed since Clark’s entry into the WNBA three seasons ago.
Drew Hanlan highlighted Caitlin Clark’s influence on increasing WNBA viewership and its global appeal. He likened her impact to that of Michael Jordan in the NBA and Tiger Woods in golf. Hanlan said, “And I’ll tell you what, for the W. I know you might get in a little bit of trouble. It is because of Caitlin Clark.” Cunningham responded, “Timeout, timeout, timeout. … I should not get in trouble for knowing the obvious. I think you use that for your benefit. It is so obvious, and that doesn’t mean there wasn’t greatness before her; it’s just like that’s when our game really started to go global.”
Caitlin Clark was the top pick in the 2024 WNBA draft following a stellar college career at Iowa, where she broke the NCAA points-scored record previously held by Pistol Pete Maravich. Since joining the league, Clark has continued to break records and shows much promise for future achievements.
Hanlan provided evidence of the league’s growing popularity. Compared to five years ago, the Indiana Fever’s attendance has increased from just over 2,000 to an average of 15,109 people per game. Viewership across all networks has reached 1.3 million viewers per season, a fivefold increase. Additionally, the league’s overall attendance has grown from 2,600 to more than 11,000 people per game.
This surge in numbers underscores Caitlin Clark’s role in the league’s expansion. Other rising stars like Paige Bueckers of the Dallas Wings and Olivia Miles of the Minnesota Lynx are also recognition-worthy contributors to this success. All these players are set to participate in the WNBA Playoffs. This event is expected to bring record-high viewership and attendance as fans watch these stars compete for their first league championship.