The WNBA’s emphasis on developing rivalries within the league has been a driving force in increasing viewership for nationally televised games. Rivalries between franchises or individual players have always been key in selling sports content. The recent telecast of the Fever’s 91-83 win over the Sky on Sunday, which averaged 2.25 million viewers, marked the most-watched WNBA game on any network in 23 years. This game peaked at close to 3 million viewers, with top local markets including Indianapolis, Memphis, Hartford, Columbus, Chicago and Las Vegas.
Clark and Reese’s chippiness added to the buzz of the matchup just like their previous meeting did. Top draft picks such as Caitlin Clark, Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese have previously played in highly viewed women’s basketball games. The upcoming game between the Fever and Sky on June 23 at 4:00 pm ET set to air nationally on ESPN is anticipated to draw significant interest among WNBA fans.
