Though Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever are no longer part of the WNBA playoffs, the league is still benefiting from the point guard’s remarkable rookie season.

The absence of Clark and the Fever from the postseason has noticeably impacted viewership numbers, but the WNBA continues to enjoy significant success.

Friday’s semifinal Game 1 between the New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces drew an average of 929,000 viewers, with a peak of 1.2 million, marking a 60% increase from 2023 and highlighting the league’s growing popularity, even without its biggest star on the court.

Clark, the top overall draft pick, has had a major influence on the league, as seen by the record-breaking audience sizes during the Fever’s Round 1 playoff games against the Connecticut Sun.

Game 1 of the series set a new WNBA record with 1.84 million viewers, only to be surpassed by 2.54 million for Game 2. Despite these numbers, the Fever were eliminated, ending Clark’s first season.

Even in her offseason, the 22-year-old’s star power continues to fuel interest in the WNBA, though her absence is felt. Sunday’s Game 1 between the Sun and the Minnesota Lynx drew just 650,000 viewers.

Kelsey Mitchell, Clark’s teammate, praised her impact on the league, saying, “I don’t think people would have this level of awareness without her.”

Mitchell also reflected on her personal experience with the spotlight, saying, “She’s done an amazing job bringing in her own fans, but for me, I’ve always stayed under the radar. I’ve been more introverted, so seeing this attention is a new experience.”

After a stellar four-year career at Iowa, Clark was selected as the No. 1 pick in April’s draft.