The rivalry between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese continues to captivate audiences, setting new viewership records for the WNBA. The latest matchup on Sunday, featuring the Chicago Sky's narrow 88-87 victory over the Indiana Fever, drew an average of 2.302 million viewers on ESPN, marking it as the most-watched WNBA game in 23 years.
The record-breaking trend is becoming a habit when Clark and Reese face off. On June 16, a game where the Fever won 91-83 with Clark contributing 23 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, drew 2.25 million viewers on CBS, also setting a 23-year high. According to Austin Karp of Sports Business Journal via Richard Deitsch of The Athletic, the recent Fever-Sky game outperformed the 1.58 million viewers who tuned in to watch the Mets-Cubs game on ESPN the same night.
The appeal of these matchups extends beyond the games themselves, reflecting a growing interest in the WNBA. ION reported its highest-ever viewership for a WNBA game on June 21, with the Fever's game against the Atlanta Dream averaging 1.18 million viewers, surpassing the previous record of 1.02 million for the Fever-Mystics game on June 7.
Caitlin Clark-Angel Reese rivalry draws viewers to the league
The intense competition between Clark and Reese has drawn attention not only for their individual performances but also for the dramatic nature of their games. In their recent clash, Clark's long-range shooting in the fourth quarter initially gave the Fever a substantial lead. She hit her fourth and fifth three-pointers early in the quarter, putting the Fever up by 12 points. However, Clark then shifted to a more pass-focused strategy, recording no assists or points in the final seven minutes, allowing the Sky to come back and secure the win.
Clark acknowledged the potential for more shots late in the game but emphasized her trust in her teammates.
“I’m sure there was an opportunity for me or two to probably attempt another shot there at the end. But I trust my teammates… I’m gonna give them the ball every time… I believe in them,” she said after the game, per Matthew Byrne of ClutchPoints.
Despite the loss, Clark's overall performance was notable, especially her 13 assists, which set a franchise record for the Fever.
Fever head coach Christie Sides praised Clark's decision-making but noted the need for the team to finish games more strongly.
“I really thought when she went out in transition after that missed free throw, I thought she was going to take it to the rim or pull up right there. That would’ve been a great shot for her, for our team. But I mean, we were up 15 at the end of the third quarter. We’ve got to do a better job of being able to finish out games,” Sides said.
The Fever and Sky have matched up three times over the past three weeks, each game coming down to the final minutes. Their next meeting is scheduled for Aug. 30, after the WNBA's month-long break for the Summer Olympics in Paris. The game will air on ION at 7:30 p.m. ET.
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