A 21% spike! That’s the viewership jump the WNBA just pulled this year even without Caitlin Clark even on the floor. Wild, right? But we also know that no one drives those numbers like CC. Because the moment she sat out five games initially, the numbers also said that the viewership plunged by 55%.The moment she returned, 2.8 million tuned in. That’s the kind of pull you can’t fake. And yet, for months, fans have felt it that ESPN has been tiptoeing around the Clark effect. Not fully embracing it. But is that finally changing?
This whole Caitlin Clark vs ESPN situation has been simmering for a while now. It all flared up again after ESPN dropped a 2025 Draft viewership stat graphic but conveniently compared it to 2023, not 2024. Naturally, fans were confused. Why skip over the most relevant year – Clark’s historic draft? But now the ESPN crew weighed in after Sophie Cunningham, now stepping into the media space with her no-holds-barred podcast “Show Me Something,” got especially fired up while talking about Clark.
“You have seen players in our league try to toughen up Caitlin even when I wasn’t on the team,” Sophie said, calling out what many fans have felt but few players have voiced. “I know the talks that Phoenix had in the locker room like, ‘No, we’re going to show her what the W really is.’ You know what I mean?” Cunningham acknowledged that every rookie goes through a certain level of physicality and “welcome to the league” treatment, but she noted that with Clark, it’s clearly been more intense. Now that she’s sharing the court with her in year two, even Cunningham finds herself questioning why it still hasn’t let up.
ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne chimed in, saying, “Some of that is just hazing.” However she admitted, “Some of that is exactly what Sophie said. But I also think that she’s defined herself as the “enforcer” now. And I think the fact that her teammates have her back and they’re going to stand up for her is what they’ve been waiting for.”
BREAKING: ESPN admits that Caitlin Clark has been targeted by WNBA Players after Sophie podcast dropped: pic.twitter.com/RVIMGDkRxm
— J.Mac | LFG UNC (@Gameis_gameLFG) July 31, 2025
It’s no secret that the way veterans have treated Clark has been a constant point of debate. From Chennedy Carter’s infamous shoulder-check away from the ball to the string of rough fouls and consistent physicality. The numbers back it all up. Clark drew 17% of all flagrant fouls last season, more than double the next closest player. And nearly 12% of those came from one team alone: the Chicago Sky. She averaged 4.2 fouls drawn per game in her rookie year, third-highest in the league. And this year, the physicality hasn’t let up one bit.
Even so, things are different as CC has returned for Year 2 stronger than she was last year. Also, now, Clark’s not alone. Cunningham built a bit of an ‘enforcer’ rep herself, especially after her run-in with Connecticut’s Jacy Sheldon. After Sheldon pushed Clark to the ground, Sophie clapped back with a hard foul of her own in the final minute, grabbing Sheldon’s head mid-layup.
Both were ejected, but the message was loud and clear. And off the court, Cunningham’s just as vocal. And at least for now, even ESPN seems to be inching toward that reality. As for Caitlin’s return to the court, there’s still no timetable.
Caitlin Clark’s return remains uncertain as Fever adjust
Caitlin Clark is probably facing the toughest stretch of her young career. The Indiana Fever star has missed more than half of the season so far, plagued by a series of injuries that just won’t let up. First, it was a left quad strain that sidelined her for three weeks. Then came a left groin issue, keeping her out for another two. And now, a right groin injury has added to the list, with no clear timetable for her return.
Clark’s numbers are still solid – 16.5 points, 5 rebounds, and 8.8 assists per game – but her shooting efficiency has taken a major hit. She’s just 2-of-35 on three-pointers in road games this season and shot a rough 7-of-49 in her last seven games before the most recent setback. Safe to say, the injuries have been a massive roadblock for the 22-year-old guard.
The Fever issued a statement last week confirming that Clark had undergone further medical evaluations, which thankfully showed no additional injuries or damage. Still, the concern isn’t going away. Clark’s already missed 13 of the team’s 26 games this year, and with 18 still left in the regular season, there’s no telling how soon she’ll be back in action.
In her absence, the Indiana Fever have been holding steady, sitting at 14-12 and very much in the playoff mix. Aliyah Boston has stepped up big time, posting three consecutive double-doubles, and veteran Kelsey Mitchell has taken over much of the scoring load. The team’s adjustments have been noticeable and necessary.
Boston, speaking on the Post Moves podcast with WNBA legend Candace Parker, laid it out clearly. “I think when you have Caitlin on the floor, everything is automatically spaced,” she said. “When she’s not on the floor, [defenses] can shrink [the court] a little bit.” For CC herself, while her competitive fire remains, the mental and physical toll of back-to-back injuries has been a new challenge. “This is the first time I haven’t felt like a young body that can run around and sprint every day,” she admitted. “Being a professional athlete, you really have to take care of both your body and your mind, it’s been a journey learning about that.”
Here’s hoping Caitlin gets the time she needs to heal and returns healthy soon!
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