Indiana Fever-Chicago Sky game sets WNBA TV ratings record
Caitlin Clark and the Fever have played in the five most-watched WNBA games since 2002, with two of those five matchups coming against Chicago.
Caitlin Clark and the Fever have played in the five most-watched WNBA games since 2002, with two of those five matchups coming against Chicago.
In front of another sellout crowd in Indianapolis, Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever took an elbow to the head, courtesy Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky.
The first month of the WNBA season drew its highest attendance since the league’s second season in 1998 and the best television ratings in its history, the WNBA announced Tuesday.
Based on her inclusion in the U.S. national team pool, Clark could be chosen as an alternate if one of the 12 players is injured and can’t play.
Taking in account a 30-point outburst on Friday night against the Washington Mystics. Clark has averaged 16.8 points, 6.3 assists, 5.3 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 5.6 turnovers in her first 12 WNBA games.
In a Tuesday letter to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, Banks said Clark has experienced “resentment and repeated attacks from fellow players” during her first season with the Indiana Fever.
Clark has arrived in the WNBA at an opportune moment. The league is in negotiations for a new media rights deal, which could significantly increase revenue. And the players union and league soon can negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement.
The league also fined Sky forward Angel Reese $1,000 for failing to make herself available to media after Saturday’s game and fined Chicago $5,000 for failing to ensure that all players comply with league media policies.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said that the original plan was to roll out the charters gradually as they became available, but the league was able to secure charters for every team within a week of the season starting.
The Fever drew a crowd of 16,013 on a Tuesday night, about 1,200 spectators short of a sellout. It was the first time the Fever have failed to sell out this season.
Toronto will be the WNBA’s 14th franchise, with the expansion Golden State Valkyries to start play next year.
The Indiana Fever have drawn sellout crowds in all four of their games—two at home, one in New York and one at Connecticut. And league-wide attendance is up 14%.
The last athlete to have a similar signature basketball agreement with Wilson was Michael Jordan.
The Fever showed progress, playing a tight contest against a team that blew them out by 21 points just six days ago, but Indiana remains winless after four games.
The Indiana Fever star had the best game of her young pro career on Saturday, but the Fever lost 91-80 to the Liberty in New York City.
Amid high expectations, rookie Caitlin Clark struggled to find open shots and was hampered with foul trouble in her first home game for the Fever.
The Indiana Fever’s season-opening road game Tuesday night against the Connecticut Sun—featuring the debut of Caitlin Clark—was the most-watched WNBA game since 2001.
Sportsbooks say they expect increased betting on women’s sports overall this year because of Clark, the Olympics and increased media attention.
Clark struggled early in her WNBA debut Tuesday night as the visiting Indiana Fever fell to the Connecticut Sun 92-71 before a sellout crowd.
This Indiana Fever’s game in Connecticut will feature the second sold-out crowd Clark will play in front of in her extremely young WNBA career.