The WNBA has seen a surge in viewership and ratings in 2024, largely due to Caitlin Clark‘s arrival and her stellar rookie season. The former Iowa superstar has helped elevate the league, but her comments also shed light on some of the challenges the NBA has faced recently, particularly a noticeable dip in viewership.
According to Front Office Sports, NBA ratings dropped by 28 percent a month into the 2024 season, and the league has struggled with lower ratings in recent years, with four of the least-watched NBA Finals in the past decade occurring in the last four seasons.
Caitlin Clark has a joyful response when she signs autographs for her youngest fans ever
Clark’s perspective on the NBA’s struggles
In an appearance on the New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce podcast, Caitlin Clark offered her thoughts on the decline in NBA ratings. One of her observations was that casual basketball fans often don’t appreciate just how skilled NBA players are.
“I feel like the average basketball fan doesn’t understand how good NBA players are and they think they’re not trying. I promise you, they’re trying. They’re just so good it looks like they’re not trying.
Clark also weighed in on the evolving style of play in the NBA, suggesting that the physicality of the game has changed.
“The physicality of the league has changed a lot,” she added. “I wasn’t around when it was much more physical. Maybe people want more beef and physicality and people think it [play] has gone soft. I think the skill has just changed. … It’s gonna be different than when MJ played. It’s gonna be different in 10 years than it is now.”
Clark also identified competition from football as another key factor contributing to the NBA’s struggles with viewership.
“It’s competing against a lot of football right now,” she noted. “You have to take that into consideration. Football is just America’s favorite thing!”
