The WNBA’s 2025 All-Star Game, held this past weekend in Indianapolis, fell flat with fans — both in person and on television — marking a steep drop in interest from the previous year. The glaring absence of star rookie Caitlin Clark appears to be the most likely reason.
Clark, who has become the face of women’s basketball in her first season with the Indiana Fever, was sidelined due to a minor groin injury and did not participate in the game or the 3-point contest. Though she served as a team captain and was present at the event, her absence from play was enough to send viewership numbers and ticket demand into a tailspin.
According to data from TickPick, ticket prices for the game dropped by 48%, from a $121 get-in price to just $64, following the announcement that Clark would not be playing. That plunge in demand reflected a broader collapse in excitement around the event, which was promoted heavily in the lead-up but ultimately failed to deliver the kind of draw Clark has brought to nearly every arena she’s played in this season.
Television ratings were similarly underwhelming. While ESPN compared this year’s numbers favorably to 2023 — the last All-Star Game before Clark’s entry into the league — the comparison ignores the substantial viewership boom the league has experienced since her arrival. When judged against expectations for a league now regularly selling out arenas and drawing prime-time coverage thanks to Clark’s presence, the All-Star ratings represented a striking underperformance.
Adding to the visual narrative of the night, players took the court in warm-up shirts reading, “Pay us what you owe us,” a message they hoped would pressure the league in upcoming collective bargaining agreement negotiations. But with limited viewership, the message likely backfired. The slogan was part of an ongoing campaign among players seeking significant increases in pay, benefits, and revenue-sharing as WNBA revenues — driven largely by Clark — continue to rise.
Clark expressed disappointment over missing the game, stating: “I am incredibly sad and disappointed to say I can’t participate in the 3-Point Contest or the All-Star Game. I have to rest my body. I will still be at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for all the action and I’m looking forward to helping Sandy [Brondello] coach our team to a win.”
While Clark’s injury was reportedly minor, her absence served as a reminder of just how much the WNBA’s growing popularity is tied to her participation. Analysts and fans alike have pointed out that the league’s reliance on a single player to carry so much attention — even for its marquee events — is both a blessing and a vulnerability.
Clark is expected to return to action later this week.