Caitlin Clark Pays Homage To Serena Williams As Tennis Star Posts Selfie 7 Feb 2, 2025; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Former Iowa Hawkeyes player Caitlin Clark (center) looks on during the game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the USC Trojans at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Caitlin Clark Gets Into Early Viewership Rivalry With Paige Bueckers On 2025 WNBA Draft Night

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics | By Dan Agulto | Last updated Apr 16, 2025 8:08 AM ET

Caitlin Clark held on to her viewership record for her WNBA Draft event, as Paige Bueckers failed to pull in enough eyes to beat her record for the 2024 draft.

The 2025 WNBA Draft saw an average of 1.25 million viewers and peaked at 1.46 million viewers. The draft event features the much-awaited drafting of UConn star Paige Bueckers, who had been projected as the overall first pick for the entirety of this NCAA season.

Caitlin Clark’s 2024 WNBA Draft night was a historic moment, setting viewership records for the league. The event averaged 2.45 million viewers, with a peak of 3.09 million, making it the most-watched WNBA draft in history.

The hype around Clark’s WNBA Draft was part of the “Caitlin Clark effect,” which referred to the former Iowa superstar’s ability to draw crowds, both in-person and online viewership.

For this year’s draft , UConn Huskies superstar Paige Bueckers was the overall No.1 pick, as what was expected by fans and analysts alike. She was drafted by the Dallas Wings, who won the lottery pick earlier this year.

Dominique Malonga, a 6’6″ center from France, was selected second overall by the Seattle Storm, bringing international flair and immense potential to the league. Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen were picked third and fourth by the Washington Mystics. The Golden State Valkyries made their mark with Justė Jocytė from Lithuania as the fifth pick.

Caitlin Clark Gets Into Early Viewership Rivalry With Paige Bueckers On 2025 WNBA Draft Night 2 Team WNBA player Caitlin Clark high fives teammates Kayla McBride and DeWanna Bonner during the WNBA All-Star Game at Footprint Center in Phoenix on July 20, 2024.

Other notable selections include Georgia Amoore at No. 6 for the Mystics and Aneesah Morrow at No. 7 for the Connecticut Sun.

Caitlin Clark Getting Venue Upgrades Criticized By Reporter

One reporter called out the fact that several WNBA teams are adjusting their game venues in games they are scheduled to play against the Indiana Fever. While the intent is not explicitly stated most of the time, fans have been quick to deduce that this is to accommodate more people than Caitlin Clark usually pulls as an audience.

Caitlin Clark's Influence Crosses Oceans As Ireland Kids BC Raise Funds In Special Event 1 Iowa president Barbara Wilson hugs Caitlin Clark, left, and Kate Martin during a celebration of the Iowa women’s basketball team Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.

However, for one reporter, this doesn’t make sense.

“This is why I don’t understand only upgrading venues for games against the Indiana Fever instead of doing it for a few teams,” Dallas-area sports reporter London Thomas said. “It only grows Caitlin Clark’s brand rather than the league.”

“Even the Fever are owning it.”

This is why I don’t understand only upgrading venues for games against the Indiana Fever instead of doing it for a few teams.

It only grows Caitlin Clark’s brand rather than the league.

Even the Fever are owning it https://t.co/EdF0ra56lB

— Landon Thomas (@sixfivelando) April 12, 2025

Caitlin Clark Gets Into Early Viewership Rivalry With Paige Bueckers On 2025 WNBA Draft Night 4 Nov 30, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Indiana Fever player Caitlin Clark looks on during the second half of the game between the Phoenix Suns and the Golden State Warriors at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

Several WNBA teams have adjusted to larger venues this 2025 season to accommodate the increased demand for tickets during Indiana Fever games with Caitlin Clark. For example, the Dallas Wings moved their June 27 matchup against the Fever from College Park Center, which seats 7,000, to the American Airlines Center, which accommodates over 20,000 spectators.

This article first appeared on Hardwood Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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