The Indiana Fever vs. Chicago Sky clash had almost everything needed to become a WNBA ratings hit. One of the league’s biggest stars, Caitlin Clark, exploded for 37 points and 10 assists. Sophie Cunningham, who had already found herself at the center of a heated WNBA debate, was back in the spotlight. And then there was the controversial confrontation between Natasha Cloud and Enes Kanter Freedom. With so much happening around one game, it is hardly surprising that the final numbers were historic, and WNBA analyst Ben Daniel believes it’s mostly because of Clark.

“Caitlin Clark continues to be the biggest draw in women’s basketball by a mile, and one of the biggest draws in American professional sports… That game had everything that the WNBA could hope for. But that wasn’t the only game that did very well. Caitlin Clark on Amazon Prime against the Dallas Wings… We’re setting records anywhere we play. She saved this league…” Daniel said on his YouTube Channel.

The Fever-Sky matchup averaged 3.31 million viewers and peaked at 3.82 million, making it the most-watched WNBA regular-season game since the league’s inaugural 1997 season and the third-most watched regular-season game in league history. The only two games ahead of it came during the WNBA’s opening weekend in 1997: New York Liberty-Los Angeles Sparks, which drew 5.04 million viewers, and Charlotte Sting-Phoenix Mercury, which drew 3.59 million. Both games aired on NBC.

Now, there were certainly several storylines working in the game’s favor, including the previous physical clash between Cunningham and DiJonai Carrington. However, this isn’t even the first time this season that an Indiana Fever game featuring Caitlin Clark has driven viewership numbers to record-breaking highs.

Earlier this season, Clark and the Fever faced Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream on August 16. The matchup averaged 2.6 million viewers on ESPN, making it the most-watched WNBA regular-season or postseason game ever on cable. In fact, the broadcast networks have also highlighted the impact Clark has had on their WNBA audiences.

In July, both CBS and NBC touted record-setting numbers for games featuring Clark and the Fever. CBS said its July 18 Fever-Liberty broadcast averaged 2.579 million viewers and peaked at more than three million, calling it the most-watched WNBA game of the season on a single network. NBC, meanwhile, said its July 12 Fever-Aces broadcast generated a 2.64 million Total Audience Delivery across NBC and Peacock, making it the most-watched WNBA game of the season by its measurement.

Then there was Chicago Sky star Natasha Cloud’s verbal altercation with Enes Kanter Freedom. During the third quarter, with the Fever leading the game, Cloud exploded on Freedom, who was attending the game and also advocating for his cause to convince the league to add the definition of the word “woman” to their new CBA.

Enes Kanter Freedom had already caused massive controversy after declaring himself eligible for the 2027 WNBA Draft on August 7, saying, “If simply declaring who you are is all that’s required, then I meet every single requirement necessary to compete in the WNBA.”

However, the charged exchange lasted only for a moment before the officials and arena security prevented it from escalating. Freedom was escorted outside the stadium, and the teams still played more than one whole quarter of basketball, with Clark emerging as the leading WNBA player to score at least 30 points and 10 assists in a game, with 5.

So far, all the record-setting broadcasts since 2024 have featured Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever. And that is exactly why Daniels believes Clark’s pull is so important to the WNBA. The league has no shortage of stars, storylines, or controversies. But when Clark and the Fever take the floor, the audience numbers have repeatedly followed.