The Indiana Fever continue to attract a strong audience even without guard Caitlin Clark, who is sidelined due to injury. Sunday’s Fever-Storm game on ABC drew an average of 1.6 million viewers, marking the second-highest <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/basketball/wnba/”>WNBA audience this season for games without Clark. Earlier in the week, the Fever’s Friday matchup against the Wings on ION garnered 1.14 million viewers, ranking as the network’s third-best WNBA broadcast of the year.

WNBA Viewership Trends on ION Network and Role of Clark’s Potential Return

Through the first 10 weeks and 20 games aired on ION, WNBA viewership has increased by 4% with an average of 620,000 viewers. Last season, Caitlin Clark participated in five ION games during this period, compared to only one this year due to injury. The network anticipates a further viewership increase if Clark returns, as four of the final five weeks on ION’s schedule feature the Fever.

Other Sports Broadcast Highlights This Weekend

CBS’s final PGA Tour event of the season, the Wyndham Championship, benefited from airing without competition from the Summer Olympics, delivering the best weekend coverage since 2020. The broadcast averaged 1.7 million viewers, with Sunday’s coverage peaking at 1.95 million. Meanwhile, Fox’s broadcast of The Basketball Tournament final attracted 444,000 viewers on Sunday afternoon, representing a 67% increase from last year’s game on the same network.

Implications for WNBA Broadcasts Moving Forward

The sustained audience numbers for the Fever indicate strong fan engagement despite Caitlin Clark’s absence, suggesting the franchise’s appeal extends beyond their star player. With Clark’s potential return later in the season and multiple Fever games scheduled on ION, the league expects viewership to improve further. These trends underscore the growing interest in WNBA broadcasts and the positive trajectory of the league’s television presence.