The WNBA is expanding this season, not only with the addition of the league’s 13th franchise but also with an increase in the number of regular-season games. As a result of this expansion, the league will now feature a 44-game schedule. Teams will play four games against five opponents from the same conference and two teams from the other conference, while facing the remaining four teams three times each. With these added games on the schedule, there is even more opportunity for the league to showcase its signature talent, Caitlin Clark. This led FOX Sports Radio host Colin Cowherd to think how the WNBA could have cashed in further with Clark’s presence.
On Monday, the WNBA officially announced its league schedule, which notably includes 41 of the 44 Indiana Fever games being broadcast on national television. This marks the first time in WNBA history that a team has had such a significant portion of its regular-season schedule featured on national TV. Consequently, Colin Cowherd reflected on what he would have done with the broadcast rights, particularly in regard to the Fever, if the league had prioritized that many of their games for national coverage.
“If I were the WNBA, I would have considered a separate television package to a network on just Caitlin Clark games,” stated Cowherd. “I would have had two packages. The WNBA package, and then a separate 15-18 game Caitlin Clark package.”
Cowherd’s suggestion stems from the remarkable impact Clark had in her rookie season. Ticket sales surged by an astonishing 265% for games in which she played. Additionally, her star power fueled a record-breaking increase in jersey sales, which skyrocketed by over 1,000%. Meanwhile, the Fever experienced a 225% jump in corporate sponsorships.
Not only did teams benefit from Clark’s presence, but networks also reaped the rewards. Each of the WNBA’s broadcast partners recorded their highest viewership numbers ever for Indiana Fever games. The biggest winner from Monday’s announcement appears to be CBS, which will feature Clark in the WNBA’s first-ever primetime games on broadcast television. With networks vying for coverage of the highly anticipated Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky matchups—showcasing the rivalry between Clark and Angel Reese—CBS will air two of their showdowns on June 7 and August 9.
“The league wasn’t ready for her last year,” stated Cowherd. “They just weren’t prepared. She was prepared. She’s going to be great. The league just didn’t know what to do.”
However, this season, the Indiana Fever will receive unprecedented exposure. Ten of their games are slated to air on ABC/ESPN, while eight will be featured on ION. Additionally, seven games will be broadcast on CBS and CBS Sports Network. Furthermore, NBA TV and Prime Video will also showcase Fever games throughout the season.
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