Caitlin Clark's WNBA debut averages 2.12 million viewers, becomes most-watched game since 2001

Just over a month after her time at Iowa came to an end, Caitlin Clark made her long-awaited WNBA debut Tuesday night. Her Indiana Fever took on the Connecticut Sun in the season opener at Mohegan Sun Arena, and ESPN was hoping the ratings success from Clark’s college days would follow her to the next level.

That’s exactly what happened.

More than 2.12 million people tuned in to ESPN2 for the game, according to Sports Media Watch – the most-watched WNBA game since 2001 when 2.45 million fans watched the Los Angeles Sparks take on the Houston Comets on NBC. Tuesday’s game also became the first live-action sporting event streamed on Disney+ in addition to Hulu.

Indiana vs. Connecticut was also the third-most watched game of the day behind both NBA playoff games and beat out the NHL playoffs on ESPN.

Clark struggled mightily in the first half before eventually finishing with 20 points on 5-for-15 shooting in her debut, but she also committed 10 turnovers as the Fever fell to the Sun 92-71. The NCAA’s all-time leading scorer faced a tall task in her first regular-season WNBA game, going up against a Connecticut team that held opponents to a league-best 53.9 points per game in 2023.

After the Fever took Clark as the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, the question became what type of impact she would have on WNBA’s viewership. At the college level, Iowa helped fuel the surge thanks in large part to the “Caitlin Clark Effect,” including three straight NCAA Tournament rounds which generated record viewership.

It all culminated with a title game in front of 18.7 million people, which came in as the most-watched sporting event outside of the Olympics and football since 2019.

More on Caitlin Clark’s adjustment to WNBA

To ESPN’s Andraya Carter, it was a tough challenge for Clark as she adjusts to the next level in the WNBA. After her success at the college level, she will have to hone her craft going forward against heightened levels of competition – with less experience around her, as well.

“I saw Caitlin Clark in her first WNBA game facing the best defense in the league, the Connecticut Sun are known for their defense,” Carter said on Get Up. “That’s what they do. They’re physical, they’re fast. DJ Carrington is an elite defender who I think is coming into this season with something to prove. She proved it and started to prove it in yesterday’s game. 

“But listen, the thing about the Connecticut Sun, two seasons ago they were in the finals. Last season, they were in the semis. This is an experienced team. Caitlin’s team isn’t an experienced team. Caitlin’s not an experienced player and it showed in the turnovers. There were some passes that Caitlin made that she could get away with at the college level that she has to learn are not going to work at this level.”