The WNBA has been without second-year superstar Caitlin Clark for more than two weeks as the Indiana Fever guard recovers from a quad injury. Her absence is having a drastic impact on the league’s ratings.
According to Nielsen ratings published by USA Today this week, WNBA viewership for nationally televised games has dipped by 55% since Clark’s injuries.
The Fever’s nationally broadcast games — which dot the WNBA calendar this year as fans clamor to see Clark — have experienced a 53% drop in viewership since Clark’s last game on May 24.
The Fever’s national games averaged 1.81 million viewers before the injury. Since then, they’ve attracted an audience of 847,000 per game.
Fever coach Stephanie White has not provided an exact timeline for the star’s return to the court.
“We’re ready to start ramping back up,” White said on Monday. “She’s been allowed to do some practicing, not everything. We’re going to be smart and we’re going to be cautious and we’re going to play the long game and work her back in very intentionally.”
The 4-5 Fever return to action on Saturday afternoon against the undefeated New York Liberty.
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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