BROOKLYN, N.Y. — A record number of viewers watched Iowa's Caitlin Clark and Kate Martin get their ticket to a professional career on Monday, according to ESPN PR.
The 2024 WNBA Draft averaged around 2.45 million viewers on ESPN. That's a more than 300% growth in viewership compared to 2023 WNBA Draft, which amassed an audience of 572,000. The previous record was set in 2004 as the Phoenix Mercury snagged Diana Taurasi.
At peak viewership, 3.09 million were watching. It was also the most-viewed WNBA draft event on ESPN ever, especially with younger people — ESPN PR said it was the most-viewed program of the night for people under 35.
Clark, whose #22 jersey is retired at Iowa and has claimed countless collegiate records for herself, was the obvious first pick. But expected doesn't mean uninteresting; her No. 1 overall selection to the Indiana Fever was stil a cheering matter.
She'll play alongside Aliyah Boston, last year's No. 1 overall pick and 2023 WNBA rookie of the year.
Her fellow Hawkeye, guard Kate Martin, is also joining the WNBA. Though Martin was there to support Clark, she got her time to shine as the Las Vegas Aces selected her No. 18 overall in the second round.
The Fever announced last week that 36 of their 40 regular season games in the upcoming season will be on national television. That includes two games on ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, CBS, CBS Sports Network, Prime Video and NBA TV.