Throughout the 2025 WNBA season, viewership has generally declined when Caitlin Clark is not playing, impacting games involving the Indiana Fever and the wider league. Yet, amid these broader trends, the Fever have consistently drawn higher ratings than other teams, even without their star player on the court. This pattern reveals the growing dedication of Indiana’s fanbase and their support for the team as a whole during Clark’s extended absences.
The ongoing fan commitment demonstrates how the Fever have managed to sustain interest and elevate WNBA viewership through their collective effort, transcending reliance on a single player.
Numbers are down without Caitlin Clark obviously, but Fever continue to outpace everyone else. Which is a testament to fans attaching to the team.—Robin Lundberg (@robinlundberg) July 29, 2025
Top-Rated WNBA Broadcasting Keeps Indiana Fever in the Spotlight
The most-watched WNBA games of the year prominently include the Indiana Fever, often even when Caitlin Clark is not participating. This success highlights the team’s appeal beyond their superstar’s presence. For example, a notable comparison underlines this trend: the Las Vegas Aces vs. New York Liberty game on July 8 reached an average of 701,000 viewers on ESPN, marking the highest recorded viewership for a non-Indiana WNBA game on ESPN since 1999.
The numbers from last night’s nationally televised Aces-Liberty game are in: The Liberty win averaged 701K viewers, peaking at 813K on ESPN.It was the most-watched non-Indiana WNBA game on ESPN (E1) since 1999—Madeline Kenney (@madkenney) July 9, 2025
In contrast, the Indiana Fever’s matchup against the Liberty on July 22, despite Clark’s absence, attracted nearly 1.2 million viewers on ESPN, maintaining their position as ratings leaders. Similarly, the June 27 game featuring the Fever and the Dallas Wings exceeded one million viewers, making it the highest-rated WNBA game with Clark sidelined ever aired on the ION network.
Additionally, the Fever’s contests against the Chicago Sky stood out, drawing significant attention even when both Clark and Angel Reese were unavailable. The July 27 game on ABC attracted 1.5 million average viewers and peaked at 1.7 million, contributing to an overall 6% increase in WNBA viewership compared to the previous season.
This past Sunday, ABC aired another of its most-watched #WNBA games EVER with the @IndianaFever’s win over the @chicagosky 1.5M avg. viewers (1.7M peak) WNBA on ESPN up 6% from last season pic.twitter.com/Ecy10i5JEO—ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) July 29, 2025
The Fever’s win against the Sky, broadcast on ABC, drew 1.5 million viewers, while a previous victory over the same team on CBS, also without Clark, attracted 1.9 million spectators. Both games ranked among the top ten most-watched WNBA broadcasts of the 2025 season, reinforcing Indiana’s impressive ratings performance independent of Clark’s participation.
Fan Support Shifts Toward Team Resilience and Collective Success
Despite Caitlin Clark’s considerable impact as the league’s main driver of viewership, the Indiana Fever have demonstrated that fans remain engaged and supportive even when she is sidelined. This support highlights the roles of players like Kelsey Mitchell and the overall team dynamic in maintaining audience interest throughout the season.
While the highest viewership numbers continue to associate with Clark’s presence—such as the season opener between the Fever and the Chicago Sky that attracted 2.7 million viewers on ABC—the consistent ratings strength during her absences suggests that the Fever command a loyal following capable of sustaining the franchise’s visibility and influence within the WNBA.
As the season progresses, this trend may signal a shift toward broader fan engagement based on team identity rather than individual star power, potentially benefiting the WNBA’s growth and viewership diversity moving forward.