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Caitlin Clark Sets Assist Record, Thomas Suspended, Ratings Soar

7/15/2026

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Summary

Caitlin Clark Record

Caitlin Clark set the record for the fastest 600 assists in 72 games and averages 20.1 points, 7.8 assists and 4.2 rebounds.
After Alyssa Thomas made throat contact with Clark on June 24, officials upgraded the play to a Flagrant-2 and suspended Thomas for one game.
Christine Brennan criticized the league’s handling of Clark, prompting Dick Vitale to defend her in a July 13, 2026 tweet and noting a surge in ratings.

Summary

Clark Breaks Ratings

The WNBA will expand the regular season to 50 games starting in 2027, the longest schedule in league history.
Clark’s 10 p.m. ET return game became the first cable WNBA broadcast to average over one million viewers, setting a new late-night record.
July 5 and July 6 Fever games without Clark drew 1.55 million on ESPN and 1.57 million on CBS, outdrawing prior Women’s Sports Sundays and showing strong Indiana interest.

History

Historical Context

Since its 1997 launch with eight teams and an NBC television contract, the WNBA has grown its broadcast deals—from the 2007 ESPN rights fees to the 2026 11-year NBC/Prime Video partnership. Record-breaking 2024 draft viewership of 2.45 million and a $2.2 billion media agreement set the stage for a 2027 expansion to a 50-game schedule, highlighting the league’s rising commercial clout.

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Caitlin Clark Record

Caitlin Clark set the record for the fastest 600 assists in 72 games and averages 20.1 points, 7.8 assists and 4.2 rebounds.
After Alyssa Thomas made throat contact with Clark on June 24, officials upgraded the play to a Flagrant-2 and suspended Thomas for one game.
Christine Brennan criticized the league’s handling of Clark, prompting Dick Vitale to defend her in a July 13, 2026 tweet and noting a surge in ratings.

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