Impact of Caitlin Clark-Angel Reese rivalry clear by WNBA TV viewing figures

Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark’s transcendent popularity was evident once again after historic viewership numbers from their most recent matchup

Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese will meet for the third time this month as Chicago hosts Indiana on Sunday, but WNBA fans still have plenty of appetite for the two rookie sensations.

After a game-high 23-point outburst, Clark emerged victorious in the pair’s most recent encounter on June 16, a 91-83 thriller that shattered WNBA viewership records.

CBS announced on Tuesday that its Sky-Fever broadcast was the most-watched WNBA game on any network in 23 years with 2.25 million viewers and a peak of nearly 3 million. The network also noted a 225 percent increase in viewership over a comparable game window from last season and that affiliate service Paramount+ delivered the most-streamed W matchup on record. The Fever’s local region of Indianapolis proved the top local market, followed by Memphis, Hartford, Columbus, Chicago and Las Vegas.

This historic viewership comes just a week after the WNBA announced its most successful 30-day stretch in league history. The W’s opening month attracted the second-highest average attendance since 1998 and the largest television audiences ever, nearly tripling last season’s ratings with an average of 1.32 million viewers across nationally televised networks ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, CBS, ION and NBA TV.

“What’s happening now in women’s basketball is confirmation of what we’ve always known: The demand is there, and women’s sports is a valuable investment,” said Colie Edison, the WNBA’s chief growth officer. “We’re encouraged by growing engagement across all our verticals, especially as we welcome new and diverse audiences into our fandom. The WNBA continues to experience sustained growth as our league embraces this heightened momentum.”

Clark and Reese are well-versed in tip-toeing around shattered television records, setting the all-time mark for NCAA women’s championship game viewership at 9.9 million during their first-ever meeting in 2023. LSU and Iowa’s rematch in the Elite Eight this spring cleared their own lofty bar, peaking at 16.1 million viewers, and Clark, in particular, has proven must-watch television — the rookie sensation has played in seven of the nine most popular WNBA games this year.

Reese has been tremendously impactful in growing the sport’s profile as well. The former LSU star has the largest social media following of any women’s basketball player despite entering the league just this season, also blazing a path for endorsement opportunities after partnering with Shaquille O’Neal.

She’s worked to dismantle notions that the WNBA’s recent surge is due entirely to Clark, amplifying the league’s compelling stars and personalities. “I’ll look back in 20 years and be like, ‘Yeah, the reason why we’re watching women’s basketball is not just because of one person. It’s because of me too,’ and I want y’all to realize that,” Reese said.

“It’s not just because of one person. A lot of us have done so much for this game, and Chennedy has been here before, obviously, but there are so many great players in this league that have deserved this for a really, really long time, and luckily, it’s coming now.”