Just one year after Caitlin Clark helped bring in record-breaking viewership for the 2023 WNBA Draft, this year’s 2024 edition saw a stunning collapse in ratings — and fans and analysts alike are asking: what went wrong?

The numbers are in, and they’re not pretty. According to multiple reports, the 2024 WNBA Draft experienced a sharp decline in TV viewership, dropping more than 70% from the previous year. That’s not a dip — that’s a plunge off a cliff.

And many believe they know why:
No Caitlin Clark. No buzz. No ESPN push.

From Historic Highs to Deafening Silence

In 2023, the WNBA Draft was a cultural moment. With Caitlin Clark at the center of a college basketball boom — alongside stars like Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers (who didn’t declare) — ESPN went all-in, hyping up the class and riding the wave of viral women’s sports energy.

This year? Crickets.

Despite a solid group of talented prospects like Rickea Jackson, Kamilla Cardoso, and Aaliyah Edwards, the 2024 Draft received minimal promotion and barely made a blip on ESPN’s front page. No primetime push. No major build-up. No crossover coverage.

Many fans didn’t even know it was happening until it was over.

Clark Effect: The Superstar Vacuum Is Real

Let’s be real — Caitlin Clark is a ratings magnet. Her college games broke records. Her name trended weekly. She turned Iowa into a national headline factory.

So when she declared for the 2024 WNBA Draft weeks early, the assumption was that she’d headline the show — until fans were reminded she was already drafted by Indiana… last week.

Yes — Clark was the only major star in the class, and she wasn’t even at this year’s event. That left ESPN with little to anchor its coverage, and fans with no clear hook to tune in.

ESPN’s Role: A Massive Miss?

Critics argue that ESPN failed to build any meaningful narrative around the 2024 class. No feature pieces. No draft profiles aired on SportsCenter. No “next face of the league” storylines.

“They acted like 2024 didn’t matter,” one WNBA fan wrote on X.
“If it’s not Clark or Reese, ESPN doesn’t care.”

And it’s hard to argue. Even the broadcast presentation felt rushed and under-produced compared to last year’s red carpet atmosphere. It came across as a formality, not a celebration.

Meanwhile, Social Media Engagement Was Minimal

On social media, the contrast was even more striking. While the 2023 draft dominated TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram reels, the 2024 class barely trended.

It’s not a reflection of the players — many of whom are incredible talents — but of how little investment the media made in introducing them to the broader public.

Without narrative, without access, and without media energy, the momentum simply died.

Where Does the WNBA Go From Here?

If the league — and its media partners — want to keep the momentum of women’s basketball alive, they can’t rely on one or two megastars to carry the entire weight.

Caitlin Clark helped lift the WNBA to a new cultural tier, but it’s the league’s responsibility to tell the stories of the next wave — not bury them.

Final Thoughts: The Hype Can’t Be One-Sided

The drop in ratings isn’t just a number. It’s a warning. Without consistent storytelling, marketing, and promotion across every draft class, the WNBA runs the risk of becoming a one-player spotlight — rather than a league-wide movement.

Caitlin Clark might be the headline, but she can’t be the whole show.

Would you like a more satirical, social-media-toned version of this article? Or something designed as a video script or YouTube commentary? Just let me know — I can tailor it however you want!