For the first time in WNBA history, a preseason game will air on national television—and only one name explains why: Caitlin Clark.

The Indiana Fever’s upcoming exhibition game against Brazil isn’t just a warmup. It’s a cultural reset. ESPN, ABC, CBS, and every major sports outlet have zeroed in on one truth: Caitlin Clark is the hottest ticket in sports.

The rookie phenom has already turned the WNBA upside down—and now, before the regular season tips off, she’s done what no player has ever done: put a preseason game in prime time.

And the numbers say she’s just getting started.

41 Games. 1 Queen.

ESPN confirmed the Fever will appear on 41 of 44 regular season broadcasts—the most nationally televised games in WNBA history. That’s not a broadcast schedule. That’s a coronation.

Even LeBron James didn’t get this kind of exposure during his rookie campaign. Caitlin Clark hasn’t even logged a minute of regular season WNBA action, and she’s already drawing more eyes than any athlete in the league’s history.

It’s not just hype—it’s demand. And now the league is finally giving the people what they want.

15,000 Tickets. Gone in Minutes.

When the Fever announced their preseason matchup in Iowa against Brazil, fans jumped—15,000 tickets sold out in less than an hour.

What was once a casual tune-up game is now a national event. And ESPN, sensing the wave, rushed to the broadcast table. The network will now air the exhibition live to millions, marking a first-ever national broadcast of a WNBA preseason game.

This isn’t just about one matchup. It’s about a shift in the sport’s very center of gravity.

The Caitlin Clark Effect Is Unstoppable

Last year, Clark’s rookie season produced ratings the WNBA could only dream of a decade ago. Viewership soared past 2.2 million per game. Clark’s presence turned local arenas into national spectacles.

When she played, ratings beat the WNBA Finals. Her playoff debut alone pulled 2.5 million viewers, far surpassing championship-level numbers.

It wasn’t just a spike. It was a transformation.

Clark brought in new fans—fathers, mothers, kids, NBA loyalists—and they stayed. Her games became appointment television. Suddenly, every other WNBA team wanted a piece of the action.

Opponents Are Moving Games—Literally

Six different WNBA franchises have moved their matchups against the Fever to larger NBA arenas. Why? Because when Clark’s in town, regular venues don’t cut it.

Dallas moved to a 20,000-seat NBA arena. Chicago shifted two games to the United Center. Atlanta claimed a scheduling “conflict”—then quietly relocated to State Farm Arena.

Fans aren’t fooled. The “Caitlin Conflict” is real. Everywhere she plays, demand explodes. Ticket sales skyrocket. Teams are cashing in. And nobody’s complaining—except maybe a few jealous rivals.

Let’s Talk About the Ratings

The 2024 WNBA Draft—featuring Clark—smashed all records with over 2.6 million viewers.

The 2025 draft—without her? Just 1.3 million.

That’s a 49% drop. Half the audience disappeared. And the network that pushed Paige Bueckers as the next face of the league stayed suspiciously silent when it came time to compare numbers.

The message was clear: Caitlin Clark is irreplaceable.

Jealousy or Just Insecurity?

Of course, all this success has sparked drama. Articles questioning whether Clark’s rise is due to race have emerged. Pundits like Monica McNutt have implied that her fame is more about being a “white girl from the Midwest” than about performance.

But the data doesn’t lie. Clark’s games outperform everything. From viewership to attendance, she is the draw.

While some veterans and commentators try to undermine her, WNBA legends like Lisa Leslie, Cheryl Miller, and even Diana Taurasi are changing their tune. The latter famously shaded Clark with her now-iconic “reality is coming” line—only to publicly admit later that reality had arrived, and it looked a lot like No. 22.

Legends Are Now Lining Up

Veteran stars are flocking to Indiana. Sydney Colson. Sophie Cunningham. Even younger stars are eyeing the Fever as a destination team.

Why? Because they know what’s happening. They see the crowds. The buzz. The bank accounts.

One analyst summed it up best: “Clark isn’t just raising the bar—she’s moving the entire bar into a different league.”

Preseason Ratings Predictions? Try Millions

With ESPN broadcasting Clark’s exhibition game, analysts now predict the matchup could draw over 2 million viewers.

That’s a number normally reserved for NBA Sunday showdowns—not WNBA preseason tip-offs. But that’s exactly the point.

This is no longer a regular sport.

This is Caitlin Clark’s world, and everyone else is just buying tickets.

The Bottom Line

The critics are loud. But the fans? Louder.

Clark isn’t just selling jerseys and filling arenas. She’s rewriting what’s possible for women’s sports. And with ESPN now throwing preseason coverage behind her, the message couldn’t be louder:

She’s the face. She’s the moment. And there’s no going back.