The WNBA should continue thanking its lucky stars that Caitlin Clark is in the league

The Indiana Fever have been solid through their first 26 games of the season, tallying a 16-10 overall record and landing at No. 1 overall in the Eastern Conference standings and No. 6 overall.

The Fever have been elite on the offensive end this season, ranking No. 1 in the WNBA in points per game (94.4), No. 2 in three-point percentage (37.7), and No. 3 overall in field goal percentage (47.4). Three of the five Fever starters are also averaging double figures in points, including Kelsey Mitchell (23.3), Caitlin Clark (20.7), and Aliyah Boston (17.7). The Fever also continue to be the WNBA's biggest draw, thanks to a trio of stars, led by Caitlin Clark.

The Fever, Caitlin Clark continue to drive high viewership numbers for the WNBA

Ever since she entered the league in 2024, Clark has been one of the biggest draws for the WNBA, selling out arenas and smashing viewership records across the board. This season, all of the Fever games are on national television, and it isn't a coincidence that they continue to set viewership records and feature on the top five most-watched games to this point in the season.

All five of the most-watched WNBA games this season feature Clark and the Fever, including a massive 3.09 million viewers for the Indiana Fever vs. New York Liberty game on July 18. According to CBS, the 3.09 million viewers is the most on any network this season, and the second-most-watched WNBA game (regular or postseason) on any network since the 2000 season. Regardless of what her peers think, fans want to see Clark and the Fever, and that trend will continue as long as she is in the league. Not bad for the No. 11 overall guard in the league, right?

Clark and the Fever are heating up right before the All-Star break, with the superstar guard tallying a 45-point, 10-assist outburst against the Seattle Storm, earning her the AP Player of the Week for July 13-19. Indiana's success hinges on Clark staying healthy and playing at an All-WNBA level, even with Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston having solid seasons. The Fever have had some success when Clark has been sidelined with injuries, but there is no way the Fever win a championship without her.

The Fever go as Clark goes, especially on offense. She leads the team in assists per game (7.7) and is second on the team in points per game behind Mitchell (20.7). If she stays healthy, she could easily lead the team in all offensive categories and guide them to a deep playoff run. When she is on the court, she is must-watch television, and the WNBA's viewership numbers always spike during her games.

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This article was originally published on dearoldgold.com as The WNBA should continue thanking its lucky stars that Caitlin Clark is in the league.