The Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese rivalry has shattered WNBA viewership records, with the latest match between the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky attracting the largest audience in history. The game drew around 3 million households, setting a 23-year viewership record, and became the most streamed WNBA game on Paramount+, surpassing previous records.
After the game, Reese expressed frustration with the officiating, stating that she believed her team was not getting a fair share of calls. However, ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith disagreed, endorsing the flagrant 1 call made against Reese. He noted that the same call would have been made in the NBA, citing the need for players to be protected from harm.
The presence of rookie star Caitlin Clark has had a significant impact on the WNBA, boosting ratings and attendance to record numbers in the first month of the new season. WNBA arenas across the country have reported high capacities, with games averaging 1.32 million viewers across major networks ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, and CBS. This is a significant increase from last year’s average of 462,000 viewers.
