“Make Sure You Keep Caitlin Clark Upright”: WNBA World Can’t Stop Talking About Fever’s Preseason History
Apr 25, 2026; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) dribbles past New York Liberty guard Ny'ceara Pryor (1) during the first half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images ©John Jones-Imagn Images Long before the WNBA official season, the Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark have already found themselves at the brink of history. The Fever’s preseason opener against the New York Liberty underscored their undeniable impact on the league, as they set an unheard-of number in this preparatory season, prompting the hoops community to share their perspectives.
Just a few days after the preseason opener between the Fever and the Liberty (April 25), the WNBA released the broadcasting numbers. As per the report, the average viewership of the game was around 743,000, while it peaked at 822,000 during the course of the game, making it the most-viewed preseason game in the league’s history. The broadcast numbers aren’t close to the coveted preseason game between the Fever and the Brazilian national team, which drew an average viewership of 1.
3M. But from a preseason opener perspective, the numbers were up. According to Sportico, the numbers surged 76% from last year’s preseason opener between the Las Vegas Aces and the Dallas Wings.
From a contextual perspective, there were few doubts in this regard. The game marking Clark’s return to the W after missing most of last season was an anticipatory moment. Furthermore, it also gave the fans a preview of how Fever’s new roster, featuring players like Raven Johnson, fares against a star-studded NY Liberty lineup that included Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, and Jonquel Jones.
The game’s craze also reflected in the attendance at the Barclays Center, which was quite impressive, despite the Fever being the away team. More than 14,000 fans attended the game live during this preseason opener and subsequently gave the fans enough stuff to chatter about on social media, especially directed towards the major driving force behind these impressive numbers- Caitlin Clark. Physical play, off-ball role, and ratings dip fuel growing fan debate “You ****** better make sure you keep Caitlin Clark upright.
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