After missing five games due to injury, Caitlin Clark returned to the court on June 15. She played for the Indiana Fever against the New York Liberty. Right away, she made her presence felt. She scored 32 points and helped her team end Liberty’s nine-game winning streak.

Viewership Soars

As a result of her return, TV ratings saw a massive jump. The game drew an average of 2.2 million viewers. At its peak, viewership reached 2.8 million. This figure was 76% higher than the average viewership last season.

Drop During Absence

Meanwhile, during her injury break, WNBA viewership dropped. National broadcasts saw a 55% decline. Additionally, games featuring the Indiana Fever lost 53% of their national audience.

On-Fire Performance

In her comeback match, Clark dominated early. She scored 25 points before halftime. Moreover, she hit seven three-pointers, including three in just 38 seconds.

Experts Praise Her Impact

Former WNBA star Rebecca Lobo applauded her performance. On First Take, she said, "It means a lot more people are paying attention once again. We know how much Caitlin drives ratings. We know how much Caitlin drives attention on the WNBA. For her to come back and do it in that way was just ridiculous."

She added,"I’m sitting there at the end of the first quarter when she had that 38-second stretch where she drained deep three after deep three after deep three."

What’s Next

Now, the Indiana Fever will face the Seattle Storm on Wednesday. That game will be held at Climate Pledge Arena. At present, Indiana ranks seventh in the WNBA standings. Meanwhile, Liberty holds second place. On the other hand, the Minnesota Lynx lead the Western Conference.