The Caitlin Clark Effect. Before this year I don’t think I’ve ever watched a WNBA game before
Source
https://twitter.com/JoePompliano/status/1800280053890056584
https://www.wnba.com/news/tip-off-2024-success-breakdown
• Attendance is up 156% from last year, and more than half of all WNBA games this year have been sellouts.
• About 400,000 fans have attended WNBA games this season, filling WNBA arenas to 94% capacity.
• This year's televised games (ABC, ESPN, etc.) are averaging 1.32 million viewers, nearly triple last season's average of 462,000.
• WNBA Countdown is averaging 741,000 viewers, a 211% increase from last year's full season average.
• The WNBA's online merchandise store has already set a single-season sales record (with 4+ months left in the season), and sales are up 756% compared to last year.
• The WNBA's social channels garnered 157 million video views through the first week of the season, an all-time high and up 380% compared to last year.
• The WNBA set an all-time high for League Pass subscriptions last month with a 355% increase vs. last season.
by doggoesmeow
38 Comments
This is what good marketing does. Caitlin is a game changer for them and its nice to see.
NBA is drama for men. WNBA needs the same vitriol, hate, and shitty narratives to get the casuals attention… lmao we know what the current narrative is against a certain player
I think CC is the gateway but attendance and ratings are up for games she isn’t even in, even if not by as much. ACES have sold out all 20 home games for example
Good for them. But they really need to develop a Larry Bird to her Magic Johnson.
Thanks, Caitlyn Clark
All these stats and a majority of their players still don’t think the Caitlin Clark effect is real
Nice to see the success they’re having. Wonder when they’ll get their own subreddit?
Hell yeah
From case studies I’ve read this isn’t entirely dissimilar to Wilt’s impact on filling the seats in early years of men’s professional basketball
How is the WNBA doing in its smaller markets
Exclude the Aces, Liberty and Clark and is the league still seeing huge growth
That is nipping on the heels of the NBA regular season ratings
https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2024/04/nba-regular-season-viewership-up-slightly-four-year-high-christmas-low/
And they decided to keep her off the Olympic team hahahaha
Is this r/nba or r/wnba?
The league is totally changed, it’s pretty incredible. Not just Clark but the whole rookie class is just iconic
The Angel Reese effect obviously
Great. Its a fun product and can be on pace for healthy growth. Hope the trend keeps
It has become player haters ball rather than basketball this year. Just kidding lol. The drama is quite fun to watch.
IMO Caitlin Clark has become a blessing, people now realize there are lots of colorful characters in the league. Also there are very good teams and talent there too.
WNBA players are 😡😡😡 with this data right now as they cant believe only one player is causing the popularity of their league right now 😂😂😂😂…
Just a coincidence. I’m sure Caitlin Clark has absolutely nothing to do with it
nice they will finally get a decent payday
and they still only paying Caitlyn like 80k 😂
I tried watching some of the fever game today. Other than CC it was just a bunch of chucking shots up and no defense.
I love it, why did no one tell me about Kelsey plum??
The WNBA seems stupidly bitter and harsh towards their rookies. The Clark stuff has shown some really jealous gals but the just seem to let the whole league beat up on rookies tbh. They fuck around and hurt their cash cow for an extended period and they’ll learn
I don’t understand why other players are hating on CC.
She will probably be the reason there’s a big salary bump in the WNBA soon.
That’s kinda insane, no? Huge increase for them. Good stuff.
But the coaches who decide on the women’s Olympic team felt it was a smart idea to keep Caitlyn Clark off the team after complaining for years about unfair pay and now that they finally have a golden goose to reach a global audience, they decide they don’t want her and that they prefer being mediocre and getting paid peanuts. Unbelievable how dumb a move that is.
Clark is a legit game changer for the league.
Also Brink and Reese seems to be bringing in some attention as well
Barf.. I think I’m going to puke.
Would it be possible to just have WNBA discussion on the WNBA subreddit?
The Angel Reese effect /s
I have watched a few games, my issue is time honestly. Time is why I get to do a lot of things. I don’t even watch the majority of NBA games unless there’s players I like to see or its just my team.
And yet these idiots leave her off the Olympic team. And take cheap shots at her.
Women destroy women.
they didnt invite her to team isa 😂 stupid ass league. they should be kissing caitlins ass
haven’t watched one minute of Fever games…. But this is the most WNBA regular season games I have ever watched.
What did they get Steph Curry or something?
So we’re allowing wnba posts again? This whiplash is really confusing me.
A couple months ago a bunch were allowed about how amazing Clark is and how great the growth is.
Then a week or so ago every big sports sub and even the front page of Reddit was blowing up with highlights, articles, and interviews about other players hating on and cheap shotting Clark, but the mods removed all those from here despite it being big news. So I thought maybe the mods decided not to allow wnba stuff anymore and that’s why they weren’t allowing any of those posts.
But now here we are again near the top of the sub with a wnba rainbows-and-sunshine positivity post.
Strange 🤔
Haven’t watched one Sparks game EVER. I will when they play the Fever. And I’m a diehard NBA fan.