Caitlin Clark Fans Tune Out as Fever Ratings Tank 47% in Playoffs – WNBA, ION Hide Viewership?

The WNBA Playoffs have begun, but not with the bang many expected — particularly from Caitlin Clark’s fanbase. Despite the league’s breakout star helping lead the Indiana Fever to their first playoff appearance since 2016, viewership for their first-round game has dropped dramatically, plunging by an astonishing 47% compared to the regular season. Even more controversially, fans are questioning whether the WNBA and its broadcast partner ION are deliberately burying the numbers.

Caitlin Clark has been a media sensation all year. The former Iowa Hawkeyes standout brought millions of new eyes to women’s basketball, routinely selling out arenas, boosting jersey sales, and shattering college ratings records. Her entry into the WNBA was billed as a game-changer for the league, and early signs seemed to support that. Regular season ratings for the Fever surged — some games drawing more than a million viewers — a feat nearly unheard of for the WNBA.

However, when the playoffs arrived, fans were caught off guard. Clark’s playoff debut aired on ION, a lesser-known network with limited sports presence. To make matters worse, ION’s streaming and broadcast accessibility are inconsistent across regions, leaving many fans confused about how or where to watch.

As a result, the Fever’s first playoff game reportedly drew just over 400,000 viewers — a steep drop from the 800,000+ who tuned into some of Clark’s regular season games. While ION and the WNBA have yet to release official numbers, sports media watchdogs have flagged the network’s silence as suspicious. “It’s unusual not to tout the numbers, especially with a star like Clark,” one industry analyst said. “The only reason not to release them is if they’re bad — or worse, embarrassing.”

Fans haven’t held back either. Social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit are filled with complaints from viewers unable to find the game or even aware it was happening. “I’ve watched every Caitlin Clark game this year, and I missed her playoff debut because I couldn’t figure out where to watch it,” one frustrated fan posted. “This is a failure by the WNBA.”

Critics argue that the WNBA squandered a golden opportunity by relegating its most marketable star to a poorly-distributed network. Instead of capitalizing on Clark’s momentum and putting her on ABC, ESPN, or even Prime Video, the league appears to have chosen contractual convenience over visibility.

Some defenders point out that the WNBA’s media rights are divided among several partners and that playoff scheduling was predetermined. Still, with Caitlin Clark’s influence, many believe the league should have adapted and elevated her platform accordingly.

As the Fever continue their playoff run, all eyes — or perhaps fewer of them — are watching to see whether the WNBA will adjust course. If the league truly wants to grow, it may need to reconsider how it treats its biggest stars and the fans who follow them.