For years, the WNBA has sought to elevate its visibility and market its athletes more effectively. Now, with Caitlin Clark emerging as a global sensation, the league has found its golden opportunity. Selected as the first overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever, Clark’s star power is rewriting the narrative of women’s basketball. The league is making a bold move to capitalize on her immense popularity, and the results are groundbreaking.
The WNBA recently unveiled its national television schedule for the 2025 season, and the Indiana Fever are front and center like never before. An astonishing 41 out of the team’s 44 games will be broadcast on national TV, setting a record for the most nationally televised games in a single WNBA season. This unprecedented exposure not only highlights the league’s confidence in Clark’s ability to draw viewers but also marks a pivotal shift in how women’s basketball is being showcased to a broader audience.
What’s even more surprising is that the Indiana Fever’s television coverage surpasses that of some of the NBA’s most high-profile teams. Clark and the Fever will have more nationally televised games than the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and New York Knicks—teams that have long dominated the basketball media landscape. The numbers speak for themselves: the Fever will appear in 41 nationally televised games, compared to 39 for the Lakers, 36 for the Warriors, and 34 each for the Celtics and Knicks. Even the Dallas Mavericks, led by superstar Luka Dončić, will only have 30 nationally televised games.
Clark’s impact extends far beyond television ratings. Her presence has become a major draw for live audiences, prompting opposing teams to relocate games to larger arenas to accommodate the overwhelming demand from fans eager to see her in action. This level of attention is almost unheard of for a rookie in professional basketball, let alone one playing in the WNBA. Her ability to capture the public’s imagination and generate excitement on such a scale underscores just how transformative she is for the sport.
Surpassing teams like the Lakers and Warriors in national TV coverage is a milestone that signifies a new era for women’s basketball. Caitlin Clark’s rise is not just about one player’s success—it’s about the changing landscape of sports viewership and the growing recognition of female athletes on a mainstream level. With record-breaking television exposure and an undeniable cultural impact, Clark is proving that the WNBA is not just growing—it’s thriving.
