© Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
The WNBA took another big ratings hit due to Caitlin Clark’s injury. Days before the WNBA All-Star game in Indianapolis, Clark revealed that she had reaggravated a groin injury and would not be able to play during All-Star weekend.
“I’m so excited for Indy to host WNBA All-Star this weekend. … I know this will be the best All-Star yet,” Clark said in a statement. “I am incredibly sad and disappointed to say I can’t participate in the 3-Point Contest or the All-Star Game. I have to rest my body. I will still be at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for all the action and I’m looking forward to helping Sandy [Brondello] coach our team to a win.”
Unfortunately for the WNBA, immediately after Clark announced her injury status tickets for the event dropped by nearly 50 percent.
Via TickPick
“The get-in price for the WNBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis has dropped 48% — from $121 to just $64 — after news broke that Caitlin Clark won’t be playing”
Not only did ticket sales suffer from Clark’s injury, but ratings also took a dip.
According to Front Office Sports’ Ryan Glasspeigel, ratings for this year’s WNBA All-Star game without Clark were down 36 percent from last year when she played.
WNBA All-Star Game
2.19 million viewers on ABC
Down 36% from last year (3.44M) when Caitlin Clark and teammates played the Olympic team @FOS
— Ryan Glasspiegel (@sportsrapport) July 22, 2025
ESPN attempted to make this year’s WNBA All-Star game ratings look good, but was criticized by several journalists.
Why does ESPN PR continue to mislead its followers? The 2025 All-Star Game viewership was not historic. It was a huge drop from last year.
In 2024, 3.44 million watched when Caitlin Clark played in the game. This year, with Clark injured, viewership plummeted to 2.2 million. https://t.co/V1QtzEokrS
— Christine Brennan (@cbrennansports) July 22, 2025
ESPN didn’t want to show the ratings were down for wnba all star game because Caitlin Clark didn’t play so they just used the 2023 numbers instead. Lmao pic.twitter.com/NJN69EW1jK
— Robert Littal BSO (@BSO) July 22, 2025