WNBA Sets All-Time Record Despite Caitlin Clark Missing 23 Games

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Chris Phelps | Last updated Aug 19, 2025 7:37 PM ET

Caitlin Clark, in her second WNBA season, has been unable to stay healthy as the Indiana Fever make a final push toward clinching a playoff spot. The former Iowa Hawkeyes guard has missed the Fever's last 13 games due to a groin injury, and 23 in total this year. Still, Indiana has found ways to win without her, despite losing other guards like Sophie Cunningham and Aari McDonald for the season.

Yet, even with Clark's absence, the WNBA has set a new league-wide record.

WNBA Sets Attendance Record

On Tuesday, Front Office Sports' Colin Salao reported that the WNBA has set an all-time regular season attendance record, bringing in roughly 2.43 million fans this year (through Sunday's games). This passes the previous mark of 2,364,736 fans set back in 2002.

This record comes with three weeks still left in the regular season. It took only 215 total games in 2025 to set the new mark, compared to 256 games in 2002. It also surpassed the attendance record from Clark's rookie year in 2024, when the league drew 2.35 million fans.

Valkyries, Fever Lead the Charge

A major factor in the WNBA setting a new attendance record has been the arrival of the Golden State Valkyries. According to Across the Timeline, the Valkyries have drawn 289,024 fans through 16 home games in their inaugural season. While they rank second overall in total attendance, Golden State leads the league in average attendance at 18,064 fans per game (through Sunday).

The Fever, meanwhile, lead the league in total attendance with 289,024 fans, even with Clark sidelined for much of the season. Indiana has played two more home games than Golden State, however, and ranks second in average attendance at 16,747 fans per game.

The WNBA has broken its all-time regular season attendance record—with a month still left in the season.

Over 2.3 million fans have attended WNBA games this season. pic.twitter.com/3gruzfKPcp
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) August 19, 2025

The New York Liberty (278,798 fans) and the Seattle Storm (210,377) are the only other WNBA teams to crack 200,000. The Atlanta Dream sit at the bottom, bringing in only 75,498 fans (through Sunday).

The WNBA is bound to shatter this record with three weeks remaining. Jumping from a 40-game schedule in 2024 to 44 in 2025 will certainly help.

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

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