WNBA Playoff Semifinals Draw Record Audience Despite Caitlin Clark's Absence

The New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces faced off in the most-watched WNBA semifinal game in 22 years, with an average of 929,000 viewers tuning in. While the ratings would have likely been higher with the inclusion of this season's Rookie of the Year, Caitlin Clark, the game still set a historic record.

Sunday's WNBA playoff game between the New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces drew an average audience of 929,000 viewers, marking the highest-rated semifinal matchup in 22 years. The numbers represent a significant 60% increase from last year's semifinals.

WNBA Playoff Semifinals Draw Record Audience Despite Caitlin Clark's Absence

Sports analyst Jemele Hill took to social media to address the recent headlines suggesting that the WNBA playoffs are experiencing a decline in ratings due to the absence of Caitlin Clark. Hill argued that such claims are irresponsible, citing the historic viewership numbers for the Liberty-Aces game.

While the WNBA achieved impressive ratings for the semifinal game, it is undeniable that the presence of Clark would have likely led to even higher viewership. Clark set a WNBA record of 1.84 million viewers for her first playoff game against the Connecticut Sun and followed it up with another record-breaking audience of 2.54 million viewers for Game 2.

WNBA Playoff Semifinals Draw Record Audience Despite Caitlin Clark's Absence

Hill acknowledged that the ratings for the WNBA Finals would be higher if high-profile teams or star players like LeBron James or Stephen Curry were involved. This is a common scenario in other sports as well, such as the NBA and NFL.

Despite the absence of Clark, the Liberty-Aces semifinal game surpassed the TV ratings of all the Finals games between the two teams last year. Additionally, Clark's regular-season games have consistently outperformed some of the Finals games in terms of viewership.

WNBA Playoff Semifinals Draw Record Audience Despite Caitlin Clark's Absence

In a testament to her impact on the league, Caitlin Clark was named the WNBA's Rookie of the Year on Thursday. She received a resounding 66 out of 67 first-place votes, with Angel Reese receiving the remaining vote.

The WNBA playoffs are experiencing a surge in popularity, as evidenced by the record-breaking viewership for the Liberty-Aces semifinal game. While Caitlin Clark's absence may have hindered the ratings to some extent, the league's overall performance is still on an upward trajectory. With continued support and the emergence of new stars, the WNBA is poised for even greater success in the future.