Caitlin Clark has once again made headlines in the world of basketball. On Sunday, Clark and the Indiana Fever took on Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream in a game that averaged 2.6 million viewers on ESPN. This marked the most-watched WNBA game in cable television history.
Rivalry Draws Viewers
The fierce rivalry between Clark and Reese began during the 2023 NCAA women’s national championship game. Reese’s LSU Tigers defeated Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes, with Reese famously taunting Clark. Since then, their matchups have consistently attracted viewers, both in college and now in the WNBA.
The viewership peaked at 4 million as the game reached overtime, helping ESPN beat last year’s regular-season average by 178%. The game was not only competitive but also lived up to expectations. Indiana overcame an eight-point deficit to win 95-91 in overtime. Clark led with 26 points and nine assists, while Reese contributed 15 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists.
Further Breaking Records
This match broke the previous record of 2.3 million viewers for a WNBA game on cable. Interestingly, Clark was also part of that record-setting game when the Fever faced Reese’s former team, the Chicago Sky.
Just days before this game, the Fever’s match against the New York Liberty averaged 2 million viewers, at the time ranked as the third-most-watched regular-season WNBA game on cable. Following that, the Portland Fire played the Phoenix Mercury, which averaged 1.4 million viewers, marking ESPN’s most-watched regular-season WNBA game without Indiana.
Overall, ESPN’s WNBA broadcasts are seeing significant growth, averaging 1.4 million viewers, which is up by 16% compared to the previous year. The Caitlin Clark effect continues to propel these numbers.
When Angel Reese is part of the matchup, the rivalry attracts even casual sports fans, reinforcing the impact Clark has on the sport’s growing popularity.
Dan Zaksheske reports for OutKick.