Some wondered how the WNBA’s television ratings would perform when Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark’s absence from the court with a groin injury extended from a couple of games to months, before eventually being ruled out for the remainder of the season earlier in September.
Well, both fans and skeptics got their answers on Sept. 12 when ESPN released a ratings recap of all the league games that aired across ESPN and ABC for the 2025 WNBA season.
So, after last season’s record-breaking regular season for viewership on ESPN platforms, how did 2025 compare?
What were the average WNBA TV ratings across ESPN?
The 25 WNBA regular-season broadcasts across ESPN this past season were the most-watched on the platform in nearly 30 years. WNBA games on ESPN networks averaged 1.3 million viewers this season, up 6% from last season.
WNBA regular-season games on ESPN in 2025 were up in nearly every demographic, including a 2% increase — 721,000 — in male viewers and a 13% increase — 543,000 — in female viewers, according to The Athletic.
Nine of the top 10 most-viewed games across ESPN were Indiana Fever games, including its most-watched WNBA game ever on May 17, when Clark and the Fever defeated Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky 93-58, which peaked at 3.1 million viewers and averaged 2.7 million viewers.
While Clark’s absence may not have had a significant impact on the WNBA regular season games on ESPN, all evidence suggests it did affect the league’s 2025 All-Star Game, which aired on ESPN on July 19. The 2025 All-Star Game drew 36% fewer viewers than the 2024 event, with 2.19 million, which was still the second-most-watched in the event’s decades-long run.
What happened to Caitlin Clark? Injuries plague star all season
Clark suffered a right groin injury in the final minute of her team’s win against the Connecticut Sun on July 15. The ailment marked the fourth separate muscle injury Clark endured during the 2025 season after not missing a single game during her entire college career or WNBA Rookie of the Year campaign.
After being sidelined for over a month with the injury, the Fever officially ruled her out for the remainder of the regular season and the postseason on Sept. 4. The 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year played in just 13 games during the 2025 season.
The Fever started their postseason journey Sunday, Sept. 14, with an 80-68 loss to the Atlanta Dream in the first round. Game Two of the series is Tuesday, Sept. 16 at 6:30 p.m. CT. The entire 2025 WNBA Playoffs airs exclusively on ESPN.
Caitlin Clark stats
2024 (40 games): 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 8.4 assists, 1.3 steals, 5.6 TO, 41.7/34.4/90.6 shooting
2025 regular season (13 games): 16.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 8.8 assists
Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@gannett.com or follow him on X @CooperAWorth.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Did ESPN’s 2025 WNBA TV ratings dip with Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark injured?
Reporting by Cooper Worth, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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