The 2022 WNBA season got off to a strong start with the Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark making her debut in front of a record-breaking audience of 2.1 million viewers on ESPN2, ESPN+ and Disney+. The game, which saw the Fever fall to the Connecticut Sun 92-71, was the most-watched WNBA game since 2001 and the most watched on ESPN platforms ever. The increased viewership is seen as a sign that the growing demand for women’s college basketball is carrying over to the professional league.
In addition to the Fever-Sun game, the defending champion Las Vegas Aces also drew a solid audience of 464,000 viewers for their home opener against the Phoenix Mercury, which they won 89-80. This marks a 5% increase over last year. The other two season openers on Tuesday were not nationally televised, but the success of the games that were broadcast indicates a promising start to the season. Last year was the WNBA’s most-watched regular season in over two decades, with viewership on major networks up 21% compared to the previous year.
Fans who want to catch the remaining WNBA games this season have a variety of options for watching. The league’s games are broadcast live on networks like ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ABC, NBA TV, ION, Prime Video, CBS, CBS Sports Network, Paramount+, Meta Quest, and WNBA League Pass. This wide availability ensures that fans can follow their favorite teams and players throughout the season, even if they don’t have traditional cable or satellite TV.
Despite a tough debut with the Fever, Caitlin Clark remains a highly anticipated player in the WNBA. While she had 10 turnovers in her first professional game, the former Iowa guard still managed to score 20 points. Clark is considered one of the greatest women’s college basketball players of all time, and her transition to the professional league has generated significant buzz. Along with fellow high-profile rookie Angel Reese, Clark has helped bring increased attention and demand to women’s basketball, following a trend seen in the success of women’s college basketball.
The WNBA’s strong start to the 2022 season comes on the heels of increased momentum for women’s basketball at all levels. The success of high-profile players like Caitlin Clark and the increased focus on women’s sports in general have helped elevate the profile of the WNBA. With the league continuing to draw in new fans and see growth in viewership and attendance, the future looks bright for women’s professional basketball. As the season progresses, all eyes will be on the court to see how the top teams and players perform, and if the WNBA can continue to build on its recent successes.
