Five reasons why Fever, WNBA desperately need Caitlin Clark back

Clark shouldn't rush back. However, the Fever and the WNBA are better with her on the court. 

Here are five reasons why.

Caitlin Clark is a massive draw

The TV ratings have held up reasonably well without Clark on the floor, especially for the Fever. 

According to Sports Media Watch, "Tuesday’s Mystics-Fever WNBA regular season game averaged 330,000 viewers on NBA TV, down from the same matchup six days earlier, which drew 357,000."

The 357,000 represented a 39 percent drop from the previous game against the New York Liberty (with Clark), according to Sports Illustrated.

Another Fever game without Clark drew 851,000 viewers compared to 459,000 for a game right after. So even when Clark isn't playing, she and the Fever are a draw. 

But there's no denying those TV numbers would have been even bigger with Clark in uniform.

Indiana faces a key stretch 

Indiana is 1-2 without Clark. The Fever were 2-2 with Clark, however, their losses were by a combined three points to New York and Atlanta, which have a combined record of 13-2. 

The Fever looked like one of the best teams in the WNBA with Clark. Without Clark, they have been finding their way. Aliyah Boston has helped the offense be more productive, however, Indiana's scoring average has dropped seven points in Clark's absence.

Indiana plays at Chicago (2-4), winners of two in a row on Saturday, followed by another road game against Atlanta (5-2).  A home game against undefeated New York looms after that.

Without Clark, there isn't a guaranteed win on that schedule. With her, Indiana is a threat to win them all. 

The Reese-Clark rivalry is good for the WNBA 

If Clark were healthy, it feels like there would be a lot more hype surrounding Saturday's game. 

The first matchup of the regular season wasn't all that competitive in the second half, but there were still some fireworks. 

Rivalries are good for sports. The WNBA could use more of them. Missing out on a Reese-Clark matchup is a bummer. 

At least there are three more on the regular-season schedule.

Clark's MVP chances

Some fans might joke about Clark's absence helping her MVP chances by proving her value to the Fever. 

However, you can't win an MVP Award on the sideline, especially when Napheesa Collier is playing out of her mind. The Lynx are unbeaten, and she's threatening to run away with the MVP already. 

Clark is the WNBA's Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods changed the popularity of the PGA Tour, much like Clark did the WNBA. The tour still had great players when Tiger didn't play, but it just didn't feel as interesting.

The WNBA is the same. It's a tremendously talented league, but without Clark, it feels like something is missing. Sort of like the NBA without Michael Jordan or LeBron James in their heyday. 

The show must go on, even without the star, but you can bet the league is rooting for a healthy Clark as soon as possible.