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Caitlin Clark’s first WNBA Playoff game breaks NFL Sunday TV record
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Caitlin Clark’s first WNBA Playoff game breaks NFL Sunday TV record

The ratings are in, and it turns out people love watching Caitlin Clark play basketball. Even when she’s not playing well. With the Fever on ABC in its vaunted 3 p.m. Sunday afternoon time slot, the WNBA saw its best postseason ratings in decades.

According to Sports Media Watch, an average of 1.84 million watched Clark’s playoff debut, despite the fact that it was an NFL Sunday and it turned into a blowout in the second half.

The Sun won the game 93-69, with Clark struggling to get anything going offensively. The AP Rookie of the Year finished with 11 points on 4 of 17 shooting and made just two 3-pointers. She also suffered a black eye.

Considering the circumstances, the ratings are particularly impressive, as it was the highest-rated WNBA playoff game since the 2000 WNBA Finals and the most-watched game outside the Finals since 1999.

The Fever plays Game 2 against the Sun on Wednesday night. That alone should be a new record, but if Indiana can force a Game 3 at home on Friday night, it’s anyone’s guess how high that number can get. After what we saw in the NCAA Tournament a few months ago, there really isn’t any point in gambling.