WNBA Star Caitlin Clark Makes Debut on Disney+ as League Leverages Streaming for Viewership Growth

WNBA breakout star Caitlin Clark is set to make her debut as the point guard for the Indiana Fever in the opening game of the regular season. This highly anticipated game will be streamed live on Disney+, marking the service’s first-ever live sports event. Clark, who is the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer for both men’s and women’s basketball, captured the attention of millions when she helped draw a record-breaking 18.9 million viewers to the Women’s March Madness National Championship game last month.

The excitement surrounding Clark’s debut doesn’t stop there. When she was drafted as the No.1 pick on April 15, a staggering 2.45 million viewers tuned in, surpassing the league’s previous high for a draft by an impressive 307%. It’s clear that Clark’s talent and star power have generated immense interest and anticipation among basketball fans.

Following Clark’s debut, Disney+ will continue to stream the Phoenix Mercury vs. Las Vegas Aces matchup, further solidifying the company’s commitment to sports streaming. In fact, Disney reported last week that it nearly turned a profit in its streaming unit for the first time during its fiscal second quarter. The entertainment giant has recognized the potential of sports streaming in driving viewership and is capitalizing on this trend.

Looking ahead, Disney’s ESPN has plans to launch a full direct-to-consumer streaming product in fall 2025, allowing consumers to subscribe to ESPN without a cable subscription. Additionally, Disney is partnering with Warner Bros. Discovery and Fox Corp to offer a sports streaming service, slated to launch this fall. Negotiations are underway for exclusive TV rights for NBA games between Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery.

The WNBA’s existing media rights deal, which is set to expire in 2025, is also up for negotiation. The current deal is worth approximately $60 million, but WNBA Commissioner Engelbert expects this figure to double when the rights are renegotiated. This demonstrates the growing value and potential of women’s basketball as a marketable and profitable entity.

Patrick Rishe, the director of the Sports Business Program at Washington University’s Olin Business School, believes that the WNBA debut on Disney+ could be a “watershed moment for the league.” He highlights the importance of targeting the league’s “key demographic” of families and younger people, who are increasingly consuming sports through streaming platforms. Rishe draws parallels between Caitlin Clark’s potential impact on the WNBA and Lionel Messi’s recent 10-year deal with Major League Soccer, which includes a streaming partnership with Apple TV.

In conclusion, Caitlin Clark’s debut as the Indiana Fever’s point guard in the WNBA regular season opener is a highly anticipated event. The decision to stream the game on Disney+ reflects the company’s increasing focus on sports streaming to drive viewership. With plans for a direct-to-consumer streaming product and partnerships with other media giants, Disney is positioning itself as a major player in the sports streaming industry. The renegotiation of media rights deals for both the NBA and WNBA further underscores the growing value and potential of basketball, particularly in the realm of streaming. This is indeed an exciting time for the WNBA, as it seeks to capture and engage a wider audience, particularly among younger fans.