Caitlin Clark and the Fever Dominate 2025 WNBA Broadcasts
4 months ago
Caitlin Clark and the Fever Dominate 2025 WNBA Broadcasts
The Indiana Fever, led by Caitlin Clark, will be at the center of national coverage for the upcoming WNBA season, with 41 of their 44 games set to air on television or major streaming platforms. No other team in the league comes close to this level of exposure.
Of Indiana’s matchups, 10 will be featured on ABC/ESPN, while eight will be broadcast on ION. Last season, the Fever had 36 out of 40 regular-season games on national television, and with the WNBA expanding to a 44-game schedule in 2025, their visibility has only grown.
WNBA’s Rising Popularity Reflects in Fever’s Coverage
The surge in national broadcasts follows a record-breaking 2024 season for the WNBA. Last year, six different broadcast partners saw their highest-ever WNBA viewership figures, all involving Fever games. ESPN alone recorded a 170% jump in WNBA ratings compared to 2023, making it their most-watched regular season to date.
The 2024 WNBA All-Star Game shattered records with 3.4 million viewers, marking the most-watched edition of the summer showcase. The 2024 WNBA Draft also saw unprecedented numbers, drawing in 2.4 million viewers. Even the WNBA Finals between the New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx were the most-watched in 25 years.
“The WNBA delivered an unforgettable 2024 season with outstanding performances, setting the stage for even greater excitement in 2025,” said league commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “With the incredible player movement this offseason, our broadcast and streaming partners will spotlight the league’s biggest stars like never before.”
More Teams Get National Spotlight, but Fever Leads the Pack
The reigning WNBA champions, the New York Liberty, will have 32 nationally televised games, while two-time MVP A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces will appear in 33. The Aces will tip off their season on May 17 against the Liberty in New York, while Clark and the Fever will face Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso, and the Chicago Sky in their season opener on the same night—both games airing on ABC.
To accommodate the Fever’s immense popularity, six of their road games have been moved to larger arenas. Other teams have followed suit, with the Washington Mystics relocating two of their matchups (against Las Vegas and Chicago) to a bigger venue, and the Aces shifting three games to the larger T-Mobile Arena.
Major Networks Expanding WNBA Coverage in 2025
The league continues to increase its media presence ahead of a new $2.2 billion broadcast deal set to take effect in 2026. ABC will set a record with 13 nationally televised WNBA games this season, while ION will air 50 regular-season matchups, including weekly Friday night doubleheaders. CBS and CBS Sports Network will significantly increase their coverage from eight games last year to 20, including the first-ever WNBA regular-season prime-time game on national broadcast television, featuring the Sky vs. Fever on June 7 and August 9.
Other platforms are also ramping up their involvement: NBA TV will air 40 games, Amazon Prime Video will stream the Commissioner’s Cup championship along with 20 other contests, and WNBA League Pass will offer more than 200 out-of-market games.
With unprecedented viewership and increased media investment, the 2025 WNBA season is poised to be the most-watched in league history—led by Caitlin Clark and the Fever at the forefront of the action.
