Caitlin Clark made her long-awaited return to the court after 222 days, and the energy in the building was off the charts. Whether it was destiny or just poetic timing, her comeback unfolded at the very place where her legendary run began: Carver-Hawkeye Arena. After choosing to skip the Unrivaled league to prioritize rest and recovery following a demanding season, Clark finally suited up again–and on May 4, Iowa’s golden girl was back. And of course, it wouldn’t be a Caitlin Clark moment without some history-making. Another homecoming. Another record. Just business as usual for Clark.
According to ESPN’s Flora Kelly, the Brazil vs. Indiana Fever preseason game brought in a whopping 1.3 million viewers–an eye-popping number for any preseason contest. To put it in perspective, that figure tops all but two of ESPN’s 57 NBA preseason broadcasts since 2010. And it doesn’t stop there–these numbers weren’t far off from what some NBA games averaged during the regular season. That’s the Caitlin Clark effect.
Ben Pickman, of No Offseason: The Athletic Women’s Basketball Show, highlighted just how significant the Fever vs. Brazil preseason viewership really was. He said, “So many people, I think, in the public think that there’s a huge discrepancy between WNBA ratings and NBA ratings. And, you know, we try on this show not to just always compare the two leagues. But if you look at this season in the NBA, the average for nationally televised games on ABC, ESPN, and TNT in the regular season–it averaged 1.53 million viewers, right? The preseason game that we just, you know, that we’re talking about here between the Fever and Brazil, which was not a close game–it’s 1.3 million. Like, think about that for a second, right? Those numbers are pretty close.”
The 2024–25 NBA regular season wrapped up with national TV networks–TNT, ESPN, and ABC—averaging 1.53 million viewers. That’s a slight 2% dip from last season’s 1.56 million average. While regular-season viewership has remained relatively steady over the years, this season marked the lowest average since the pandemic-hit 2021 season, which saw just 1.39 million viewers. And when factoring in games aired on NBA TV– which typically draws smaller audiences–the numbers drop even further. The total average audience, including NBA TV, was 1.04 million, down 5% from last season’s 1.09 million.
Now compare that to the WNBA last season. Across the full season–including the regular season, playoffs, and Finals–the league averaged 1.2 million viewers on ESPN platforms. A jaw-dropping 155% increase from 2023. Signs of bigger things ahead for the W? Absolutely. And maybe, just maybe, something Adam Silver and the NBA need to keep an eye on.
That said, Caitlin Clark’s return to action definitely played a big role in those sky-high preseason ratings–and it’s safe to say, she delivered.
Caitlin Clark shines on her homecoming
The fans got exactly what they came for Sunday at Iowa’s Carver-Hawkeye Arena: a classic Caitlin Clark performance. The Fever cruised to a dominant 108–44 win over the Brazilian national team in front of a packed house. Doesn’t get much better than that. Does it?
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) is announced ahead of a WNBA preseason game against the Brazil National Team May 4, 2025 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.
To cap off her night, Clark drained a deep 3–an estimated 36-footer from nearly the exact spot where her number 22 logo is now placed on the court. That’s the same spot where, as an Iowa senior in 2024, she broke the NCAA women’s basketball career scoring record. Talk about a full-circle moment! “I don’t know if I shoot 36-footers every day, but 30-plus for sure,” Clark laughed when asked if she regularly practices shots from that far out by ESPN . “It was just kind of a spur-of-the-moment thing. You don’t always realize where you are.”
It was a record-breaking night for Caitlin Clark and the Fever. Her impact on the game continues to grow with every performance. She’s changing the landscape of women’s basketball in real time–and this is only the start. Stay tuned for more updates as the new season of W is just around the corner!
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