When Caitlin Clark transitioned to the WNBA after a remarkable career with the Iowa Hawkeyes, it didn’t come without challenges. Even a game-changer like her faced growing pains adjusting to the league’s pace and defensive intensity. Just consider this: she recorded a league-high 223 turnovers during her rookie season—10 of those came in her debut game alone. “She’s just not built for the physicality of this league. And she’s not quick enough to get away from the physicality,” admitted UConn head coach Geno Auriemma.
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While her stats early on may not have met the towering expectations, Clark still found ways to make a consistent impact, and not just on the court. Her presence alone helped lift the WNBA to new heights in viewership and attendance. Take the 2024 season, for instance. It saw the highest average viewership in 24 years. Twenty-two games surpassed one million viewers—and 19 of those featured the Indiana Fever. Impressive, right? Not everyone thinks so. National analysts have since reexamined what they call the real “Caitlin Clark effect”—a year later.
Her influence became even more obvious during the Fever’s preseason matchup against Brazil’s national team on May 4, 2025. Broadcast live from Iowa’s Carver-Hawkeye Arena, the game averaged 1.3 million viewers on ESPN, peaking at 1.6 million. That’s more than most of last season’s WNBA regular-season games, and only two NBA preseason games since 2010—both featuring LeBron James—have pulled higher numbers. And remember, this is only Year 2 for Clark.
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Still, some believe the true impact of her rookie season didn’t hit right away. “Last year, there was just so much bulls–t with everything that was happening—through no fault of her own,” said sports analyst Ben Axelrod in a recent episode of his YouTube show. “But the two things we maybe undercovered were: one, she lived up to the hype—like, she had an All-WNBA caliber rookie season—and two, the surge in popularity they experienced at Iowa actually carried over.”
And no doubt, he’s right.
An Indiana Fever preseason game drew 1.3 million viewers this week. What does that mean for Caitlin Clark’s second season in the WNBA? @BenAxelrod and @BrendonKleen14 discuss on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.
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Clark brought with her a massive, loyal fanbase. Her college numbers speak for themselves. She helped draw a record-breaking 9.9 million viewers for the NCAA championship game—the most watched women’s college basketball game in history. In her senior season, Iowa sold out every single home game for the first time in program history.
So, the league knew what was coming. No matter how long it took her to adapt to the W, fans were going to show up—and they did. After a few bumpy outings, Clark found her rhythm, eventually finishing her rookie year with 19 individual records.
But make no mistake—the upcoming season won’t be anything like her debut year.
“This is now totally sustainable,” Axelrod noted. “The fact that this is not only carrying over into Year Two, but even into her preseason games—that tells you everything.”
Let’s be real—nobody knew the names on Brazil’s national roster. Yet, over 14,000 people packed the arena. Why? Because Caitlin Clark was on the court. For context, that same Brazilian team played the Chicago Sky, featuring Angel Reese, and didn’t even come close to generating that level of excitement or attendance.
“So it’s like—there’s nothing to watch outside of, ‘I just want to see this person as much as I possibly can,’” added Axelrod.
Even the ticket sales paint the picture clearly. For that Fever vs. Brazil game, all 15,000 seats were snapped up in just 45 minutes. The original ticket price? $28. The resale price? Up to $545. So yeah, if preseason looked like this, the regular season is bound to be a blockbuster. But for those anxiously awaiting Clark’s return to the floor, the signs aren’t promising.
As the Fever continue to monitor her left leg tightness and take a cautious approach, it’s becoming increasingly likely she’ll sit out the rest of the preseason. The hype is real—but so is the need to protect the face of the franchise. And when she does return, it won’t just be about numbers on the scoreboard—it’ll be about a league that feels different when she’s in it.
Caitlin Clark’s absence may be temporary, but it’s about to be felt in a big way.
The Indiana Fever is playing it safe with their superstar guard—and rightly so. Even though there was some early optimism about a quick return, the latest word is that Clark is still being evaluated “day to day.” So if you were hoping to catch her in the next few preseason games, it might not happen.
But honestly, who can blame the Fever for being cautious? Clark isn’t just another name on the roster—she’s the name. After a rookie season where she led the entire WNBA in assists and racked up jaw-dropping highlights, she’s become the heartbeat of this team. The one fans fly cross-country to see. The one who sells out arenas just by showing up.
So yeah, when she’s not out there, it’s noticeable. There’s just something missing. The injury itself, described as left leg tightness, doesn’t seem serious. And that’s the good news. She’s been moving well in light workouts, even doing some light jogging and bike work during games.
But head coach Stephanie White is in no rush. She made it clear: Caitlin will return when she’s ready, not when the schedule says so. Well, that’s a hard pill to swallow. Fever games without Clark still matter, but let’s be real—it’s not the same. The buzz is still there, though.
Tickets are being scooped up, social media’s on fire with every update, and there’s this constant hum of anticipation. Everyone’s waiting for that moment: the moment she laces up again, jogs onto the court, and pulls up from the logo like only she can. When she does, it’s going to be electric. What do you think??
Written by
Edited by
Sowmya Anantharaman