The Indiana Fever rookie put up a team-high of 23 points and nine assists in Sunday’s win over the Chicago Sky in what was the most-watched WNBA game on any network in 23 years.

Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever and Angel Reese #5 of the Chicago Sky look on during a game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 16, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana.  (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

An average of 2.25 million people tuned to CBS to watch the rematch between Clark and Chicago’s Angel Reese. The Fever’s 91-83 victory peaked at nearly 3 million viewers.

Clark’s big night, which featured Reese being assessed a flagrant-1 foul for hitting the former Iowa star in the head with her arm, followed a rough contest against Atlanta in which the No. 1 pick had seven points, six assists and seven turnovers.

But despite the expected growing pains of her first year in the pros, fans are continuing to tune in and show up to watch Clark.

Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever warms up before a game against the Chicago Sky at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 16, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana.   (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images).

Earlier this month, the WNBA announced that May marked the highest attended opening month in 26 years and the most-watched start of the season ever across every network.

This unprecedented growth in viewership and attendance this season has much to do with this year’s rookie class. According to the league, “four of the five moments that drove the most engagement on social channels” included highlights of Clark, Reese, Cameron Brink of the Los Angeles Sparks, or Las Vegas Aces’ Kate Martin.

 

Angel Reese #5 of the Chicago Sky celebrates a basket with Michaela Onyenwere #12 against the Indiana Fever during the third quarter in the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 01, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana.   (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

“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,” Chief Growth Officer Colie Edison said in a statement last week.

“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.”

HOT NEWS:

CAITLIN CLARK CAN’T STOP BEATING ANGEL REESE IN WNBA

Caitlin Clark Can’t Stop Beating Angel Reese In WNBA

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Caitlin Clark Gets Her Revenge On Angel Reese Again

Rivalries in sports are what make them so great. This extends to the players, coaches, organizations, and fans. They keep narratives alive and drive all sorts of drama up from out of nowhere. We have seen over the years what a strong rivalry can do for the viewership of a sport and the WNBA is finally starting to reap some of the benefits from this.

With the rise in popularity in recent years, the W has added much more talent to the league. And now with the addition of the 2024 WNBA Draft class, the interest in the sport has grown to even higher levels. Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese headline the star power from this year’s rookie class, each giving their own twist on what the term means.

The two were somewhat rivals in college dating back to the 2023 NCAA Tournament Championship game when Reese’s LSU Tigers defeated Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes. But the signature moment came from Reese hitting Clark with her immortal “You can’t see me” hand gesture toward the end of the game. This sparked all sorts of storylines and narratives despite the two actually being collegial off the court.

However, the two faced off against one another for the first time as professionals on Saturday, helping to re-spark their rivalry on the court. It was a highly-anticipated match that saw the Fever come out on top at home. This was a signature moment for the two players, and they have single-handedly helped grow the viewership of the WNBA even more so.

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – JUNE 01: Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever battles for position against Angel Reese #5 of the Chicago Sky during the second quarter in the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June

Indiana held a slight lead for most of the second half, shutting down any runs that the Sky were trying to make. Indiana played sound team basketball down the stretch, which was the difference in the game. Clark now has gotten her revenge on Reese at the WNBA level and has beaten her in the last two matchups. Iowa took down LSU in the Elite Eight this past NCAA Tournament.In the game, Clark took a big hit from Chennedy Carter that knocked her to the ground. These moments seem to come often for Clark as she learns how to be in the WNBA.

HOT NEWS:

CAITLIN CLARK SENDS CANDID MESSAGE ON ANGEL REESE AFTER FLAGRANT FOUL, WARNS BEFORE SUNDAY’S MATCH

Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky reacts after fouling Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever.

Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have represented perhaps the staunchest personal rivalry across all levels of women’s basketball over the past three years — one that is likely to remain as powerful as it is polarizing throughout their WNBA careers.

The latest chapter in that rivalry came on Sunday, June 16, when Clark’s Indiana Fever hosted Reese’s Chicago Sky. The Fever came away with an 8-point victory, the team’s second win in a row and third in the last four games. However, the top headline coming out of the evening didn’t have anything to do with the scoreboard. Instead, it concerned a hard foul Reese committed on Clark, which the referees later upgraded to a flagrant 1.

Clark took to the podium following the victory, where reporters inquired about the foul as well as her rivalry with Reese.

I think it’s just the emotion and passion that we play with, I think people love to see that. And I think that’s maybe not something that was always appreciated in women’s sports, and it should be. I think that’s what makes it fun. We’re competitors. That’s the way the game should be. It’s gonna get a little feisty, it’s gonna get physical, but at the end of the day both teams are just trying to win.

I think what [Reese has] done with her platform has been absolutely incredible. She has an entire fanbase that has supported her. What she did at Maryland and then LSU, like obviously I’ve played her for a very long time and she’s been a tremendous player and it’s been fun getting to compete again. I think it’s been really good for the game.

Angel Reese Sounds Off on Refereeing Following Flagrant 1 Call

 

GettyAngel Reese of the Chicago Sky on the court during a WNBA game in June 2024.

 

Reese had thoughts of her own following the game, during which she asserted that the foul was a basketball play and wasn’t intentional.

“It was a basketball play,” Reese said. “I can’t control the refs. They affected the game obviously a lot tonight. I’m always going for the ball. Y’all are going to play that clip 20 times before Monday, so.”

The foul came late in the third quarter as Clark drove to the basket. Reese pursued her from behind and took a swipe as Clark went up for a layup. Reese missed the ball and made significant contact with Clark’s head.

Referees initially ruled the play a common foul, later upgrading it to a flagrant 1 upon review.

The decision to bump the call to a flagrant 1 means the officials deemed the contact unnecessary. The league defines a flagrant 2 as “excessive” contact that implies intent.

Caitlin Clark Coming Into Her Own as WNBA Star

 

Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever.

 

Somewhat lost in the commotion around the foul and the postgame comments was Clark’s play in the win.

Clark scored an efficient 23 points on 7-of-11 from the field, including 3-of-7 from behind the 3-point line and 6-of-6 from the free throw line. She added 9 assists, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks.

Reese also played well in the contest, dropping 11 points and hauling in 13 rebounds to go along with 5 assists, 2 steals and 1 block.

The Fever won the game by a final score of 91-83 and moved to 5-10 on the season, while the loss dropped the Sky to a record of 4-9.