WNBA semifinal openers average 1.16M viewers, half of Fever regular-season network games
A Fox News/OutKick review found Indiana Fever regular-season games on ABC, CBS and NBC averaged about 2.32 million viewers, double the two WNBA semifinal openers on Oct. 4. A Washington Examiner piece separately reports commentator Joe Concha saying the league is not capitalising on Caitlin Clark.
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The story, neutrally told
Right · 1An OutKick review, published by Fox News, found that Indiana Fever regular-season games on ABC, CBS and NBC averaged about 2.32 million viewers, while the two WNBA semifinal openers on Oct. 4 averaged about 1.16 million. Fox NewsR “An OutKick review of Indiana's 10 regular-season games on ABC, CBS and NBC found an average audience of approximately 2.32 million viewers. The two semifinal openers averaged about 1.16 million.” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 1New York–Atlanta's Game 1 drew 1.2 million viewers on ABC, according to ESPN, and Las Vegas–Golden State drew 1.12 million on NBC and Peacock, according to NBC. Fox NewsR “New York–Atlanta's Game 1 averaged 1.2 million viewers on ABC, ESPN told OutKick. Las Vegas–Golden State averaged 1.12 million on NBC and Peacock, according to figures NBC supplied to OutKick.” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 1All 10 of the Fever's major-network regular-season games drew more than either opener, and seven topped two million; the smallest, a May 30 game at Portland on CBS, drew nearly 1.3 million, per Sports Media Watch, while the largest, Aug. 23 against Chicago, drew 3.31 million. Fox NewsR “Every one of the 10 drew a larger audience than either semifinal opener. The smallest was Indiana's May 30 game at Portland on CBS, which Sports Media Watch reported at nearly 1.3 million.”“Indiana's Aug. 23 game against Chicago averaged 3.31 million viewers on NBC and Peacock.” Read at Fox News ↗
Right · 1The Fever's Sept. 27 first-round opener against Las Vegas drew 2.11 million on ABC, about 76% more than the New York–Atlanta opener on the same network a week later. Fox NewsR “Indiana's first-round opener against Las Vegas averaged 2.11 million viewers on ABC. That Sept. 27 game also aired opposite the NFL, yet drew approximately 76% more viewers than New York–Atlanta's semifinal opener” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 1The article says the semifinal numbers are still good for the league: the openers averaged about 10% more than last year's pair and ranked second and third among semifinal Game 1 audiences since 2016, according to Sports Media Watch, and the league had not had a game average one million viewers between 2008 and Clark's arrival in 2024. Fox NewsR “the two semifinal openers averaged around 10% more viewers than last year's pair. Sports Media Watch ranked them second and third among semifinal Game 1 audiences since the league adopted its current semifinal format in 2016.”“Before Clark arrived in 2024, the league hadn't had a game average one million viewers since 2008.” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 1The author also notes the Fever drew 1.57 million against Los Angeles on June 27 without Clark playing, and argues the audience extends beyond Clark, while contending that Angel Reese's Atlanta team is not a comparable draw. Fox NewsR “the Fever drew 1.57 million against Los Angeles on CBS on June 27 without Clark playing.”“The numbers show that Reese isn't much of a television draw” Read at Fox News ↗
Right · 1Separately, the Washington Examiner reported that columnist Joe Concha said on Fox News's Hannity on Thursday that the WNBA is not taking advantage of Clark and teammate Sophie Cunningham, calling Clark the "golden goose". Washington ExaminerR “Washington Examiner columnist Joe Concha torched the WNBA for not taking advantage of the fame that “golden goose” Caitlin Clark and her Indiana Fever teammate Sophie Cunningham br” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Right · 1Concha's comments followed remarks by Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell at the team's end-of-season press conference that she and teammates get a lot of criticism for playing with Clark, and Shaquille O'Neal's advice to OutKick to stay next to a player who draws such attention. Washington ExaminerR “Mitchell said she and her teammates get a lot of flak for being on the same team as Clark.”““I wish [Mitchell] well, but my advice if you’re playing next to somebody that has eyes that can bring you extra income, make sure you always stay next to that person,”” Read at Washington Examiner ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Both pieces centre on Caitlin Clark as the WNBA's main commercial draw; Fox News/OutKick uses ratings data to show her effect, the Examiner relays a commentator saying the league fails to exploit her.
- Emphasis
- Clark's drawing power compared with other teams and stars such as Angel Reese; Fever games as the benchmark.
- Leaves out or plays down
- No league, network or Fever response; no explanation of scheduling or time-slot effects beyond NFL competition; no left or centre outlets covered the story.
- Charged language
- “torched”“golden goose”“Batman”
- For example
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“That's a pretty good answer to anyone still wondering how much Caitlin Clark means to the WNBA's television business.” — Fox News
““Now, it dominates the conversation, primarily because they don’t understand who the golden goose is, and that’s Caitlin Clark, and she’s Batman, and Robin is Sophie Cunningham.”” — Washington Examiner
What every side reports
- Caitlin Clark is credited by both outlets with bringing extra visibility and audience to the WNBA.
- Both outlets are right-leaning; no left or centre coverage exists.
Caitlin Clark person
Presented as the league's key audience driver; her games set the ratings benchmark.
“The Indiana Fever's regular-season games on major broadcast networks averaged more than twice the audience” — Fox News
Joe Concha person
Says the WNBA does not understand Clark is its 'golden goose' and should embrace the attention she and Cunningham bring.
“Concha argued players need to see the value Clark and Cunningham bring to the Fever and the WNBA overall.” — Washington Examiner
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
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Mixed Data-driven analysis arguing Clark's Fever set a ratings bar other teams miss, while acknowledging semifinal numbers are strong for the league.
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Washington ExaminerR · · Opinion
Caitlin Clark is Batman, Sophie Cunningham is Robin, and the WNBA is missing it: Joe Concha
Critical Opinion-driven report on Joe Concha's criticism of the WNBA for not leveraging Clark and Cunningham, with background on Cunningham's controversy.
- 9 Oct 00:43 First Fox NewsR Caitlin Clark's Fever set a TV ratings bar the WNBA semifinal openers could not come close to reaching
- 9 Oct 16:02 +15h 18m Washington ExaminerR Caitlin Clark is Batman, Sophie Cunningham is Robin, and the WNBA is missing it: Joe Concha Opinion
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.