DAY NEWS: Sue Bird Calls Out ESPN Hosts For ‘Hating On’ WNBA Playoff Ratings After Caitlin Exit

Sue Bird Calls Out ESPN Hosts for Criticizing WNBA Playoff Ratings After Caitlin Clark’s Exit

Basketball legend Sue Bird is speaking out against ESPN hosts Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe for their negative commentary regarding WNBA playoff viewership following Caitlin Clark’s elimination from the tournament. Bird, a prominent advocate for women’s basketball, has dedicated her post-retirement efforts to promoting the sport, particularly through her podcast, “A Touch More,” co-hosted with Megan Rapinoe.

In a recent episode released on October 9, Bird expressed her frustration with how the decline in viewership after Clark and the Indiana Fever’s exit has been framed by the hosts. She highlighted that Clark’s games garnered “astronomical” viewership numbers, emphasizing that she is a significant draw for the league.

Bird pointed out that while viewership for games without Clark may be lower, the WNBA playoffs are still breaking records compared to previous seasons. For instance, the semi-final game between the Minnesota Lynx and the Connecticut Sun drew nearly 984,000 viewers, while all four games of the New York Liberty versus Las Vegas Aces semi-final series exceeded 900,000 viewers.

Sue Bird remarked, “These numbers are still really high and they’re still really meaningful,” stressing that the criticism from ESPN hosts is unwarranted, especially considering they are part of a network that benefits from the growth of the WNBA. She added that semi-final games have seen a 130% increase in viewership without Clark, showcasing the ongoing popularity of the league.

Bird’s comments underscore a broader conversation about the media’s role in shaping perceptions of women’s sports, especially as anticipation builds for the WNBA Finals, which is expected to break previous viewership records.