WNBA gets ‘head-spinning’ signal that NCAA viewers will follow Caitlin Clark to pro basketball.

Following her heroics as a major star draw during her glittering NCAA career, Caitlin Clark appears to have brought her fans along for the ride as she embarks on her next chapter

With Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese having already helped to transform the popularity of women’s college basketball, the staggering viewing figures for the WNBA Draft suggest that the surge in interest in the NCAA game could carry over to the pros.

The 22-year-old became a major star draw during her storied rise to prominence across her four years in Iowa with her beloved Hawkeyes. In that time, the point guard’s spellbinding performances saw her attract unprecedented eyes to the NCAA as fans were left in awe at her all-compassing showings.

The all-time Division I record points scorer made history in terms of her achievements on the court but it is arguable that her incomparable magnetism for viewers was as remarkable. In fact, as she signed off from Iowa duty in the March Madness showpiece versus South Carolina, a record 18.7 million people tuned in.

The women’s NCAA Tournament final outdrew last year’s average World Series and NBA Finals viewership, among other marquee events, to demonstrate its popularity. Now, it appears that her enthusiasts are eager to follow the movements of rising rookies, too, with this month’s WNBA Draft having attracted record figures.

The previous record haul in terms of viewers stood for two decades before nearly 2.5 million people watched this week’s draft on ESPN between 7:30 and 9:29 PM ET. That number represents a 300 percent surge based on the previous best, which stood at 601,000 back in 2004.

Back then, viewers watched on as Diana Taurasi was drafted by the Phoenix Mercury following an impressive collegiate career of her own. Announcing the revelatory news, a reporter from The Athletic called the staggering uptick in interest “head-spinning stuff” as he could not resist using an expletive, such was his surprise, adding: “Holy s******.”

The signs have been there for some time, however, that Clark commands a unique and noteworthy standing within the sport. Previous to the record-breaking viewership garnered in her final Hawkeyes outing, March Madness clashes with UConn and LSU drew in figures of 14.2 million and 12.3 million, respectively. Of course, Reese’s draw with the Tigers and Paige Bueckers’ popularity on UConn helped matters.

Reflecting on her landmark switch to the Fever, an excited Clark spoke glowingly about the opportunity that was in front of her. She said: “I can’t imagine a more perfect fit, a better place for me to start my professional career. An organization that really just believes in women’s basketball and wants to do everything the right way. So I couldn’t be more excited to get there.”

Likewise, it appeared that Indiana general manager Lin Dunn was looking forward to the prospect of Clark lining up alongside 2023 WNBA Rookie of the Year, Aliyah Boston. She teased: “It doesn’t happen very often, and so when it does happen and you can look back historically, it usually means that it leads to championships.

“I think this is the beginning of us getting back on track to win another championship here. When we were able to put Bird and Jackson together, a great point guard and a great post player, we were able to take off in Seattle and I think that can happen here when you put Clark with Boston.”