WNBA Reacts to ESPN's Fever, Caitlin Clark Announcement

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Spencer Ostrow | Last updated May 6, 2025 3:29 PM ET

Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever played the Brazil national team in front of a sold-out crowd at the University of Iowa on Sunday.

As expected, Indiana dominated, winning by a margin of 64, 108-44. Clark logged 18:42 of game time, recording 16 points, six rebounds, and five assists.

But the main storyline was Clark’s return to her alma mater. The reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year set numerous records during her four seasons at Iowa, and the WNBA scheduled a special homecoming for her before the regular season begins on May 17.

On Tuesday, ESPN, which aired Sunday’s game, shared some impressive viewership numbers for it.

"ESPN's presentation of Sunday’s preseason WNBA matchup between the Indiana Fever and the Brazilian National Team averaged 1.3M viewers," ESPN PR reported.

The broadcast also saw a 13% increase from last year’s regular-season average, with a peak of 1.6 million viewers tuning in. Additionally, ESPN’s pregame show, "WNBA Countdown," saw a 71% jump from last year’s average.

ESPN's presentation of Sunday’s preseason #WNBA matchup between the Indiana Fever and the Brazilian National Team averaged 1.3M viewers

Peak 1.6M
Up 13% from last year's reg. season avg. on ESPN pic.twitter.com/milgophfjV
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) May 6, 2025

Following the announcement, the WNBA shared its reaction.

"And we just getting started," the league wrote on social media.

And we just getting started https://t.co/EYr3oWXDLD
— WNBA (@WNBA) May 6, 2025

The league later shared a second post.

"15k showed up. 1.3M tuned in. The Indiana Fever’s preseason game at Iowa did not disappoint," the WNBA added.

15k showed up
1.3M tuned in

The Indiana Fever’s preseason game at Iowa did not disappoint pic.twitter.com/dqPEdKEXP0
— WNBA (@WNBA) May 6, 2025

Clark and the Fever are expected to continue drawing significant attention as the season progresses. In fact, other teams have already moved their home games against the Fever to larger arenas to accommodate the high demand, as some teams did last season.

For those watching at home, the Fever will be on national television 41 times in 2025, the most in WNBA history.

"With a 44 game regular season for the first time in WNBA history, Fever games will be aired across the league’s portfolio of broadcast partners including five games on ABC, five games on ESPN, eight games on ION, six games on Prime Video, three games on CBS, four games on CBS Sports Network, and 10 games on NBA TV," the Fever wrote back in March.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: