Traditionally, a matinee between two struggling WNBA teams hasn’t been must-see TV. However, with rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese on the court, Sunday’s game between the Indiana Fever (4-10) and the Chicago Sky (4-8) in Indianapolis has become highly anticipated.
Their previous matchup on June 1 drew 1.5 million viewers, with Clark’s Fever narrowly defeating Reese’s Sky 71-70. This time, even more viewers are expected, partly due to the controversy surrounding Sky guard Chennedy Carter’s foul on Clark two weeks ago.
Fans of Clark, a former Iowa Hawkeyes star, were outraged by Carter’s hip check foul, seeing it as evidence of an anti-Clark bias in the league. Critics of Clark, however, viewed the media’s reaction as overblown.
Clark commented on the foul, saying, “That’s just not a basketball play,” but doesn’t believe Carter owes her an apology. She also addressed the ensuing debate, expressing disappointment over her name being used to promote racist and sexist agendas. “Everybody in our world deserves the same amount of respect,” she stated. “People should not be using my name for those agendas. It’s disappointing. It’s not acceptable.”
Focusing on basketball, Clark has had an impressive rookie season, averaging 15.6 points and 6.0 assists per game, despite struggling with her long-range shooting and defense.
Reese, meanwhile, has also shone in her rookie campaign, averaging 12.2 points, 10 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game. She has embraced her role as the “bad guy” and believes the WNBA’s recent success is due to the collective efforts of players like herself and Clark.
The league has indeed seen a surge in popularity, with attendance up 17% from last season, more than half of the games sold out, merchandise sales up 756%, and streaming subscriptions increased by 335%.
Despite some attributing the league’s success solely to Clark, such as conservative podcaster Jason Whitlock, the impact of both rookies is evident. Both Clark and Reese played in highly watched NCAA tournament games, making it difficult to isolate the source of increased viewership.
Sunday’s game may not resolve this debate but will shift the focus back to basketball as both teams aim for the playoffs. With Clark on a two-game winning streak against Reese, the game promises to be a significant chapter in their rivalry.
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