Interest in the WNBA has been on the rise, and Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham has commented on the significant influence of her All-Star teammate, Caitlin Clark. Cunningham shared her views on her podcast, No Hesitation, where she emphasized the obvious shift in the league since Clark’s entrance three seasons ago.
Basketball trainer Drew Hanlan, appearing on the podcast, noted Clark’s role in boosting WNBA viewership and global appeal. Hanlan likened Clark’s impact to that of Michael Jordan on the NBA and Tiger Woods on golf. He stated, “For the WNBA, Caitlin Clark has played a similar role.”
Cunningham agreed with Hanlan, stating, “It’s clear that our game started to go global with Clark. This doesn’t diminish past greatness but marks a new era.”
Clark was drafted No. 1 in the WNBA in 2024 after an outstanding college career at Iowa.
Her exceptional performance set a new NCAA points record, surpassing Pistol “Pete” Maravich. In the WNBA, she continues to break records, fueling high expectations for her future achievements.
Hanlan provided data on the league’s growth, noting substantial increases in both attendance and viewership. Fever attendance has surged from around 2,000 to 15,109 per game over five years. Viewership jumped fivefold to 1.3 million across all networks.
The WNBA’s average game attendance rose from 2,600 to over 11,000, attributing this growth partly to Clark’s influence. Other emerging stars, like Paige Bueckers of the Dallas Wings and Olivia Miles of the Minnesota Lynx, have also contributed to the league’s recent success.
With talents like Clark, Bueckers, and Miles heading into the WNBA Playoffs, anticipation for higher viewership and attendance is at an all-time high. They are all striving for their first championship in the league, drawing more fans to the game.
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