Indiana Fever vs Chicago Sky game was the most-watched WNBA game in 23 years

Those involved in the WNBA, from Hall of Fame players like Sue Bird to WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, have frequently stated how crucial it is for the league to foster rivalries, whether between clubs or between individual players. Rivalries have long sold sports as a content play, and they frequently carry the audience model when it comes to nationally broadcasted events. Based on viewership, the WNBA appears to be on fire. 

With an average viewership of 2.25 million, CBS's broadcast of the Fever's 91-83 victory over Chicago Sky on Sunday became the most-watched WNBA game on any network in the previous 23 years. At its height, almost 3 million people watched the game. The biggest local market was Indianapolis, which was followed by Chicago, Memphis, Hartford, Columbus, and Las Vegas. It was one of Clark's greatest efforts of the year. She pulled down eight rebounds, dished out nine assists, and scored 23 points on 7 of 11 shots. Reese, meanwhile, increased her streak of six games with a double-double (11 points, 13 rebounds).

LSU's 2023 championship victory game was most watch game

Three of the top seven choices in April's WNBA Draft appeared in the game: Caitlin Clark, Kamilla Cardoso, and Angel Reese. Clark and Reese, of course, have been in some of the most watched women's basketball games in history, including Iowa's victory against LSU in this year's Elite Eight, which drew an average of 12.3 million people on ESPN. LSU's 2023 championship victory over Iowa averaged a then-record 9.9 million viewers and peaked at 12.6 million.

Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky's matchup averaged 1.53 million viewers on ESPN (the game broadcast on a Saturday) and peaked at 2.19 million. Clark and the Fever have now been in each of the five most-watched WNBA games since 2002, including two versus Chicago. The Fever will face the Sky again on June 23 in a game that will be broadcast nationally on ESPN and is expected to draw a large crowd.