Clark-Bueckers matchup – Caitlin Clark vs. Paige Bueckers averaged 2.49 million viewers on ABC, ranking among the WNBA’s most-watched regular-season games on major TV networks.
A WNBA opening-weekend showdown starring Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers reached millions of viewers on major broadcast and cable networks, underscoring how far the league’s mainstream profile has grown.
The Indiana Fever–Dallas Wings matchup averaged 2.49 million viewers on ABC, making it the WNBA’s second-most watched regular-season game on ABC or ESPN. Dallas edged Indiana 107-104, delivering a key early statement about the league’s competitive depth while also proving strong for ratings.
Nielsen’s Big Data + Panel numbers released Wednesday placed the game as the 14th most-viewed sports event from the past week. The highest-viewed programs in that window were NBA playoff games, highlighting that the WNBA’s early-season attention is arriving in a crowded sports calendar.
The matchup came on Saturday and featured four of the last five No. 1 selections from the WNBA draft. Aliyah Boston and Clark were picked by Indiana, while Bueckers and Azzi Fudd were selected by Dallas. For Clark in particular, the game marked her first regular-season appearance since last July.
The league’s viewership benchmark also loomed over the night: the Clark vs.. Angel Reese season opener from last year drew 2.7 million viewers, which remains higher than this weekend’s ABC matchup.. That comparison suggests the strongest audience draw continues to center on marquee stars and their recurring matchups.
More evidence of Clark’s central role came from ESPN and ABC’s top-performing WNBA games.. The report noted that the three most-watched WNBA contests on those networks all featured Clark.. One of those was a 2024 playoff game between the Fever and the Connecticut Sun that averaged 2.54 million viewers.
The WNBA’s attention did not hinge on a single game, though.. The second half of the doubleheader—a rematch of last season’s final between Las Vegas and Phoenix—drew 1.15 million viewers.. Taken together, the doubleheader averaged 1.9 million viewers, ranking as the second-most-watched WNBA opening weekend for ABC and ESPN.
ESPN has played a major role in bringing WNBA coverage to national audiences since the league’s television presence began on the network in 1997.. With the WNBA now broadcasting on a wider mix of major outlets. the league’s continued growth in mainstream viewing appears closely tied to how frequently fans can access high-profile games.
This season, the league is set to stage a record 216 WNBA regular-season games and events across broadcast platforms.. Games will be available on ABC/ESPN. CBS. Amazon Prime Video. ION. NBC. USA Sports. and NBA TV—an expanded slate that may help explain why opening weekend drew both dedicated league audiences and more casual sports viewers.
For the league, the ratings momentum carries implications beyond any single contest.. When multiple network partners are competing to carry WNBA games and the schedule spans major broadcast and streaming options. it can reduce friction for fans and increase the chances that top matchups—especially those featuring recent draft standouts—are seen early and repeatedly.
WNBA ratings Caitlin Clark Paige Bueckers ABC ESPN Indiana Fever Dallas Wings
nobody was watching this lol
wait so Dallas won?? I thought Indiana was supposed to be the better team this year. I feel like every time I actually watch Caitlin she loses so idk what all the hype is about honestly.
its not even about winning or losing its about the ratings dude the whole point of the article is that people are tuning in which means the league is growing and thats a good thing whether you like it or not. my wife got me watching WNBA last summer and honestly some of the games are pretty good. people just hate on it because they never actually watched a full game.
ok but 2.49 million is still way less than the NBA gets on a random tuesday so I dont understand why everyone keeps acting like this is some huge deal. I saw the headline and thought it said 24 million at first and I was like wow ok but no its 2.49 which is just regular numbers. I think the media keeps pushing these two players specifically because they want womens sports to take off and thats fine I guess but you cant just compare it to a playoff game and say its the same thing. also wasnt Paige Bueckers injured like last year or the year before that so shes probably rusty and they still won so maybe Dallas is actually gonna be the team to beat this season but nobody is talking about that angle at all they just wanna talk about Caitlin every single game even when she loses which seems a little unfair to the other players if you ask me.