The Indiana Fever's star power continues to shine, even when their top player, Caitlin Clark, is absent. This past week, the team delivered impressive viewership numbers, both with and without Clark in the lineup. The highlight was Wednesday's Fever-Sparks game, which averaged 1.04 million viewers across USA Network and CNBC, marking the network's highest audience of the season and the league's largest late-night regular-season audience ever. This success is not limited to Clark's presence; four of the six most-watched games this season have aired on USA Sports, all involving Clark and the Fever. The team's popularity is evident, as they dominated the top spots with their previous game against the Aces, which took the top spot on ESPN's 'Women's Sports Sundays' with a 0.8 rating and 1.55 million viewers, the largest audience of the season on cable and streaming, and the fifth-largest across all networks. This trend is not new; during Clark's injury-plagued sophomore season, non-Clark Fever games still outperformed the rest of the league in terms of viewership. The Fever's appeal is undeniable, as they consistently attract large audiences, even without their star player. The team's ability to draw viewers is a testament to their overall popularity and the growing interest in women's basketball. The WNBA's overall viewership is also on the rise, with ESPN and ABC averaging 1.3 million viewers for WNBA games, a 6% increase from last year. Newcomer USA Sports is averaging 512,000 viewers for its games, a 22% increase from last year's average on cable. The Fever's success and the league's growing popularity signal a bright future for women's basketball, with increasing interest and engagement from fans worldwide. The team's ability to captivate audiences, even without their star player, is a significant factor in this success. The Fever's popularity and the WNBA's growing viewership indicate a positive trajectory for the sport, with a promising future ahead.
