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Colin Cowherd Has Caitlin Clark Message For WNBA Players

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated Jun 13, 2025 4:32 PM ET

Amid reports that WNBA ratings are down substantially while Caitlin Clark is away with an injury, FOX Sports commentator Colin Cowherd has a message for everyone about the Indiana Fever star.

On Friday's edition of The Herd, Cowherd addressed the recent report that WNBA ratings are down over 50-percent since Clark's injury occurred several weeks ago. He said that it shows Clark is "the rising tide" in the WNBA who is giving everyone in the league a boost.

"Hopefully this is good news that she's coming back. And it's a reminder: Ladies of the WNBA, she is the rising tide," Cowherd said. "This is not Fever games just down. This is league ratings. Since she got hurt, down 55-percent. She is essentially the sun at the beach: If she's not out, nobody else is..."

"WNBA television ratings down more than 50%...since Caitlin Clark’s injury…Be nice, WNBA players, to the lady that currently has her leg up because she’s giving the league a leg up." - Colin Cowherd pic.twitter.com/cK8IZQT0pJ
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 12, 2025

WNBA fans didn't like hearing that from Colin, with many complaining that he's simply feeding into a narrative:

"Can we cancel this narrative please?" one user asked. "The Caitlin agenda was last year. Just watch or don’t. Be a fan of basketball or just a person. The ratings are irrelevant to those watching."

"Then what? Bend the knee and let the Fever walk to an easy championship because it's 'good for the ratings?'" another asked.

"He’s telling the WNBA players to be nice when he needs to look in the mirror…" a third wrote.

"Yeah, let’s say this while also to get the fact that the national windows since CC’s injury have been trash lol but OK. Anything for basketball narrative. Storm/Lynx was trapped on League Pass & Sparks/Aces was on CBSSN DURING GAME THREE OF THE NBA FINALS. But SURE."

"Is it still a smart point if you make it every day for 2 years?"

Some have pointed to the NBA Finals being broadcast at the same time as WNBA games. We'll find out in short order whether that's the underlying factor or not.

If the WNBA can't get sustainable ratings without Caitlin Clark playing in a game then it's more of an attraction than a proper sports league. Unfortunately for some WNBA fans, ratings do matter from the standpoint of making enough money to keep the lights on, let alone help the league grow.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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