The WNBA All-Stars sent a message. But television ratings delivered one, too.
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It's true, as the WNBA players made a bold statement ahead of Saturday night's All-Star Game. The response from television viewers? A bit more muted.
Before the game tipped off at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Caitlin Clark and several other players took the floor in T-shirts that read, "Pay us what you owe us." The slogan referenced the ongoing collective bargaining agreement discussions between the league and the WNBA Players' Association.
But while the players were making a point and calling for more, the ratings for the game painted a more complicated picture.
As reported by Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports, the All-Star Game drew 2.19 million viewers on ABC. That's a 36% drop from last year, when the WNBA All-Stars played against Team USA ahead of the Paris Olympics.
The context matters. Clark was a team captain this year but didn't play due to a groin injury. She did play in last year's matchup, which also carried the buzz of her being left off the Team USA roster — a snub that stirred national headlines and stirred up interest.
While there's no definitive proof that Clark's absence tanked the numbers, the league has seen clear ratings spikes whenever she's involved. Her impact on WNBA viewership has been measurable — and Saturday was a reminder of that.
The message on the shirts was loud and clear. But when it comes to negotiating power, TV numbers still tend to do a lot of the talking.
