The retired WNBA star spoke candidly about the ways the league could improve viewership
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Candace Parker on ‘The Kelly Clarkson Show’
Candace Parker pointed out a forgotten aspect of the WNBA’s recent surge in viewership.
Parker, 38, sat down for an interview on the Bloomberg Original podcast The Deal with Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly, released on Wednesday, Nov. 6. During her conversation, the retired WNBA star slammed networks’ prior indifference to the league before its current popularity boom.
“The first time they put the Women’s NCAA game on ABC was the first year that Caitlin Clark made the championship game,” Parker said, adding, “Are you surprised that the viewership was up? Are you surprised that people actually saw the product? It was buried for so long on ESPN.”
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From Left: Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese on April, 2, 2023
The WNBA saw its best viewership numbers of all time this season with the introduction of Clark, 22, and other popular newcomers, like Angel Reese and Cameron Brink. The 2024 season was the league’s most-viewed ever, the organization announced on Oct. 25, growing 170% from 2023.
There were 32 WNBA telecasts this season that averaged more than one million viewers each, and the league’s Oct. 25 release noted that 22 of those were on ESPN platforms.
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But even when Clark, Reese and Brink weren’t playing — Brink sat out most of the season after tearing her ACL in June — the league saw more eyes than previous years. The 2024 Finals, between the Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty, was the most-viewed championship round in 25 years, growing 115% from last year.
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From Left: Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese on July 20, 2024
Parker also noted that the WNBA could do more to put its telecasts in a better position to see high ratings, namely working around other leagues’ schedules. “The NBA doesn’t want to clash with NFL playoffs or NFL opening week. So why would we then put the WNBA? I don’t care if that’s the time slot that they’re giving you. Let’s fight for another one or let’s find something else,” she said on the podcast.
Parker, a WNBA legend, announced her retirement from basketball on April 28. She’s the first WNBA player to win three championships with three different teams. She won her first ring with the Sparks in 2016. After that, she went to play in her hometown of Chicago, leading the Chicago Sky to a title in 2021 before joining the Las Vegas Aces for a 2023 championship win.
