The 2025 WNBA All-Star Game pulled in 2.06 million viewers on ABC. That’s a steep drop from the 3.44 million who watched in 2024. A 40% year-over-year decline isn’t subtle, and the reason is obvious. Caitlin Clark didn’t play.
Clark was voted an All-Star captain but sat out with a groin injury. She appeared at media events and participated in festivities, but her absence from the game itself had a measurable impact. The broadcast still ranked as the second most-watched WNBA All-Star Game of all time, but the sharp decline showed how much of last year’s audience was tuning in just for her.
Caitlin Clark Drives WNBA Ratings, Even When She Doesn’t Play
Clark’s influence on viewership is clear. Here’s how the last three years compare:
- 2023 All-Star Game: 850,000 viewers
- (baseline, pre-Clark era)
- 2024 All-Star Game: 3.44 million viewers
- (+305% vs 2023)
- 2025 All-Star Game: 2.06 million viewers
- (+158% vs 2023, –40% vs 2024)
She turned what used to be a niche event into a prime-time draw. Even this year, without stepping on the court, the game still nearly tripled the 2023 audience. That shows some fans are sticking around. But the 40% drop proves that most of them are there for her.
We know she has an impact on ticket prices, and now there seems to be proof that she has a direct impact on TV viewership too.
“Pay Us What You Owe Us” Shirts Got Attention, But Did They Help?
Several All-Star players warmed up wearing “Pay Us What You Owe Us” shirts in protest over WNBA revenue sharing. The message spread fast across social media, and sparked a wave of online debate. But it’s unclear if it helped or hurt the event’s broader appeal.
Some fans called it powerful. Others called it alienating. New viewers drawn in by Clark might not have the context to understand the message or the CBA disputes behind it. There’s no direct data linking the protest to ratings, but there’s no sign it boosted them either.
It might have distracted from what was already a weakened product without its biggest star playing.
The WNBA Is Still the Caitlin Clark Show
The WNBA is gaining traction. That’s true. Ratings are up year-over-year compared to 2023 across the board. But the Clark effect is doing most of the heavy lifting.
She brings in casual fans. She drives mainstream interest. She gets talked about on ESPN, late-night shows, and in political debates. The challenge for the league is converting that spotlight into something lasting.
Some of the new viewers are sticking around. Others clearly checked out when she wasn’t playing. If the WNBA wants to build on this growth, it needs more marketable stars, consistent storylines, and compelling games. Because right now, when Clark sits, the ratings sit too.
