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There’s been no denying that Caitlin Clark has been one of if not the most impactful players in the history of women’s basketball, and she’s only just getting started. Despite having just one WNBA season under her belt, however, iconic basketball announcer Mike Breen is already prepared to compare Clark to NBA icons such as Steph Curry, LeBron James, and even Michael Jordan.
While calling the November 10 matchup between the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks (whom he calls games for when he isn’t doing nationally televised ESPN gigs), Mike Breen detailed the impact that Caitlin Clark had on the WNBA and the excitement around the league in her rookie season, saying that — from a ratings and attendance perspective — she’s going for the WNBA what Michael Jordan did for the NBA in the 1980s.
“During the Summer when the Indiana Fever played here with Caitlin Clark, the building was packed every game. The TV ratings of the Fever this Summer for the local telecast were higher than a lot of the Pacers game because of Caitlin Clark,” Breen said.
“She’s doing rating-wise for the WNBA what Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Steph Curry have been doing for the NBA.”
Mike Breen talked multiple times about Caitlin’s impact on women’s basketball during the Knicks vs Pacers broadcast. We need him to call a Fever game!
“She’s doing rating wise for the WNBA what Michael Jordan, Lebron James, and Steph Curry have been doing for the NBA.”
BANG pic.twitter.com/Zdu46IfS5B
— correlation (@nosyone4) November 11, 2024
Breen certainly has the data to back him up, as the 2024 WNBA season was the most watched in 24 years and had its highest attendance in 2022 years. The 2024 WNBA season also saw a 170% increase in viewership of ESPN-televised games and had the seven most-watched WNBA games ever on ESPN.
As for attendance, the WNBA saw a 48% spike compared to 2023 and had a 242% increase in sellouts.