The rise of WNBA star Caitlin Clark has had a significant ripple effect on the sports world as a whole.
ESPN posted record viewership numbers in April, thanks in large part to the Women’s NCAA Tournament.
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The network delivered its best primetime ratings since the numbers were first recorded more than 30 years ago, for a press release.
Each night from 8pm to 11pm ET, ESPN averaged 2.1 million viewers.
This represents a 42% increase compared to April 2023.
At the same time, the Disney-owned network boasted its best daily audience total in 12 years.
READ MORE ABOUT CAITLIN CLARK
ESPN averaged 781,000 viewers at any given time last month, a 23% increase year over year.
“April’s record viewership demonstrates the power of top-tier content and fierce competition,” said ESPN Executive Vice President of Programming and Acquisitions Rosalyn Durant.
“From the blockbuster NCAA women’s basketball tournament to the NFL and WNBA Drafts, the NBA and NHL playoffs and the MLB regular season, April was a sports fan’s dream.
“The momentum continues in May as we bring fans another month of unmissable programming.”
Clark’s farewell tour of Iowa contributed greatly to ESPN’s excellent TV ratings.
From the Elite Eight onwards, Hawkeyes games continued to break viewership records for a women’s college basketball matchup.
A mind-boggling 18.9 million viewers watched South Carolina’s 87-75 victory over Iowa, Clark’s final college game.
This is the most-watched women’s college basketball game of all time and ESPN’s most-watched college basketball (men’s or women’s) on record.
The blockbuster clash peaked at 24.1 million in the final 15 minutes.
The 2024 NCAA Women’s Final Four was the most-watched edition of the tournament on record, averaging 13.8 million viewers.
Caitlin Clark Fever
CAITLIN Clark’s impact was felt throughout the WNBA before she was even drafted.
The college superstar from Iowa went No. 1 overall to the Indiana Fever, a surprise to absolutely no one.
The Indiana Fever had 36 of their 40 games in the 2024 season scheduled for national TV – up from 22 last year.
Teams also moved their games against the Fever to larger arenas to meet extra ticket demand.
Clark helped the NCAA attract 18.9 million viewers to the women’s championship game, more than the 14.8 million who watched the men’s championship game.
She has also signed a contract with Nike worth more than $20 million.
This represents a 114% improvement over the previous year.
Clark, 22, made her WNBA debut to start the Indiana Fever’s preseason.
The 6-foot guard scored 16 points, knocking down four 3s, and grabbed three rebounds in the Fever’s 79-76 loss to the Dallas Wings.
Indiana lost in a landslide with Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale hitting a triple with just three seconds left on the clock.
The Fever will close the pre-season with a clash against the Atlanta Dream on May 9th.
The 2024 WNBA season begins on May 14.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
