Caitlin Clark just achieved her most impressive ratings yet

1. During the WNBA regular season, I wrote that we haven’t seen a person since Tiger Woods impact a sport’s ratings like Caitlin Clark.

Now the playoffs are here and Clark is still achieving more than impressive results in terms of viewership.

The Indiana Fever’s first playoff game against the Connecticut Sun on Sunday drew 1.8 million viewers. The game was shocking 330% about the 2023 first-round game, which will be shown on ABC.

Here are some examples of how significant this viewership is:

– The game was played against a number of NFL fighters.
– The game was a 24-point landslide victory that Clark’s team lost.
– It was ESPN’s most-watched WNBA playoff game of all time that was not a finals game.

Think about it. Clark had a 330% increase in an amazing game against the NFL. Wow.

Here’s everything you need to know about Clark’s popularity. While her Fever team drew 1.8 million viewers on Sunday, here are the viewership numbers for the other three WNBA playoff games that took place on the same day:

Storm Aces: 461,000
Dream Freedom: 410,000
Mercury Lynx: 403,000

Clark plays again tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.

2. It’s one thing when I write a column ranting about ESPN showing us the Jason Kelce Show in the middle of a game, like I did last week. It’s another thing when Chris “Mad Dog” Russo mocks ESPN for doing that DURING THE GAME ON ESPN. What a legend.

3. Here are a few things to note about this spectacular touchdown pass from Jayden Daniels to Terry McLaurin that secured Washington’s win over Cincinnati on Monday.

What makes the game even more special is the fact that the Commanders were in complete confusion before the snap.

The local radio song, as you will hear below, was also electrifying.

4. The fact that the Pirates released Rowdy Tellez when he was four at-bats away from receiving a $200,000 bonus is why the Pirates are the Pirates.

Tellez needed 425 at-bats to trigger the bonus. He made 421 and the Pirates ejected him with six games left in the season. A completely substandard move.

Of course, Pittsburgh GM Ben Cherington denied that the move was made to save money, as if anyone would believe that.

5. My daily routine includes most New York Times Games: Wordle, Connections, The Mini, Letter Boxed and Strands. I don’t like Tiles.

I am telling you this because the Just has now released a sports-specific version of Connections. If you like the game, you can try it out here.

6. The latest episode of SI Media with Jimmy Traina features a conversation with Brad Nessler, CBS’s lead college football commentator.

Nessler talks about CBS losing the SEC and getting the Big Ten, replacing the legendary Verne Lundquist, and talking about the only college football stadium he has never commentated at.

Nessler also tells stories about the various analysts he has worked with over the years, reveals the one event he hasn’t predicted but would like to, shares his thoughts on Tom Brady and Nick Saban as television stars, and more.

Nessler also talks about his friendship with wrestling icon Ric Flair and reveals whether Flair or Bill Raftery is the bigger party animal.

Following Nessler, Sal Licata of WFAN Radio and SNY TV in New York joins us for our weekly segment “Traina Thoughts.” In this segment, we talk about ESPN’s Jason Kelce-heavy Monday Night Football Falcons-Eagles game broadcast, the trend NFL bettors should pay attention to, Main event on Saturday evening Return to NBC, whether The bear is a comedy and much more.

You can SI Media with Jimmy Traina below or on Apple and Spotify.

You can also watch SI Media with Jimmy Traina To Sports Illustrated YouTube channel.

7. RANDOM VIDEO OF THE DAY: Netflix has canceled all six episodes of its Vince McMahon documentary series. I may have to call in sick tomorrow and skip Traina Thoughts so I can watch it. Anyway, I’ll do my best to avoid spoilers, but this seems like a good day for an old-fashioned, ridiculous WWE video.

Be sure to, Check out previous issues of Traina Thoughts and see the Sports Illustrated Media Podcast moderated by Jimmy Traina on Apple, Spotify or Google. You can also follow Jimmy on Þjórsárden And Instagram.