WNBA Returns Thursday, But Will People Tune In With Football Starting?

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Now that the Olympics are over, the WNBA is set to return on Thursday. 

The league had a ton of momentum, drawing eyeballs like never before. Certainly, the Team USA Olympic gold might help boost excitement coming out of the break. 

Although, the ratings for the gold medal game weren't that impressive. Yes, 7.8 million Americans tuned in and that's alot. 

But the same number tuned in back in 2021 to watch the women win gold and none of that carried over to the WNBA. 

If anything, the fact that the Olympic gold medal game failed to draw more viewers than the latest iteration (and had the lowest viewership since 2008) is a bad sign for the league. 

Team USA celebrates with family on the court after defeating France in the women's basketball gold medal game during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Accor Arena.

Team USA celebrates with family on the court after defeating France in the women's basketball gold medal game during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Accor Arena. 

(Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports)

Some Americans might have lost interest, having not seen Catilin Clark play in nearly a month. 

Clearly, not having her on the Team USA Olympics roster cost the team massive viewership numbers. 

People are going to tune in for Clark, just like they did when she played in college, and just as they have since she joined the WNBA. 

The problem is that this is the first time that Clark is going up against football in a battle for media attention and viewership. 

The college basketball tournament, obviously, does not coincide with football. 

The early part of the WNBA season doesn't either. 

But it will compete with football for the rest of the year, since the WNBA regular season doesn't end until mid-September and the playoffs will go into late October. 

The WNBA has experienced unprecedented growth – largely thanks to Caitlin Clark – but will it continue after a one-month layoff and football season nearly upon us?

The WNBA has experienced unprecedented growth – largely thanks to Caitlin Clark – but will it continue after a one-month layoff and football season nearly upon us?

(Patrick Breen/The Republic/USA Today Network)

And that's the one factor that's hard to predict. As popular as Caitlin Clark is among Americans, is she popular enough to draw eyeballs during football season? 

Football is, by far, the most popular sport in the United States. The college football regular season kicks off next Saturday and gets into full swing the following weekend. 

The NFL is just three weeks away from its opening game, with the Ravens visiting the defending Super Bowl Champion Chiefs. 

Then, there's an NFL game in Brazil that Friday (Packers vs. Eagles), followed by a full slate of college football on Saturday, a full slate of NFL action on Sunday, then a Monday Night Football matchup between the Jets and 49ers. 

Can the WNBA break through and continue to generate viewers once football gets going? 

I have my doubts. 

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Dan began his sports media career at ESPN, where he survived for nearly a decade. Once the Stockholm Syndrome cleared, he made his way to OutKick. He is secure enough in his masculinity to admit he is a cat-enthusiast with three cats, one of which is named "Brady" because his wife wishes she were married to Tom instead of him.