Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese take WNBA popularity to unprecedented levels with this new achievement
The arrival of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese has brought tremendous success to the WNBA in every aspect. From the Draft on April 15, which became the most-watched with 2.4 million viewers, marking a 307% increase over 2023, to the recent All-Star game that drew 3.44 million viewers and peaked at 4.1 million-a 305% increase over last year’s game. It was undoubtedly the best All-Star game in the league’s history.
The two most-watched non-All-Star games this season have been between Clark’s Indiana Fever and Reese’s Chicago Sky. Each game surpassed 2 million viewers. This spike in viewership is reflected in merchandise sales as well. According to the “Sports Business Journal” and data from Fanatics, the league’s official retail partner, sales of league merchandise have increased by over 500% since the beginning of the regular season on May 14 compared to the same period last year. There’s been a 1,000% increase in player-specific merch sales, with Clark and Reese occupying the top two spots.
Top-Selling Jerseys in the WNBA
The top-five selling jerseys belong to Caitlin Clark (Fever), Angel Reese (Sky), Sabrina Ionescu (Liberty), and Aces’ Kate Martin and A’ja Wilson. Among the 12 teams in the league, the top five in merchandise sales are the Fever (11-15), Sky (10-14), Liberty (21-4), Aces (16-8), and Storm (17-8). The high sales for Liberty, Aces, and Storm are expected due to their strong performances this season, but the surge for the Sky and Fever is undoubtedly driven by their star players.
A Historic Season Unfolds
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This historic season, which still has a lot more to come, has seen 17 WNBA games that have topped 1 million viewers. Caitlin Clark has played in 15 of these 17 games, showcasing her significant impact on viewership. This is a remarkable achievement, considering the league hadn’t reached the million-viewership mark in the previous 16 years.
The league will return on August 15 after the Paris Olympics conclude, with many exciting events yet to unfold. The MVP race, currently led by A’ja Wilson, the Rookie of the Year award, which I’d undoubtedly give to Clark over Reese, and the potential playoff berths for the teams of these two star rookies-all of these will generate even more views and revenue for the WNBA.
