{"id":815392,"date":"2026-08-19T03:15:14","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T03:15:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/815392\/"},"modified":"2026-08-19T03:15:14","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T03:15:14","slug":"caitlin-clark-angel-reese-deliver-most-watched-wnba-game-ever-on-cable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/815392\/","title":{"rendered":"Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese deliver most-watched WNBA game ever on cable"},"content":{"rendered":"

Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have been rivals since college<\/a> and their respective rise to stardom in the WNBA remains intertwined.<\/p>\n

Over the weekend, the Indiana Fever defeated the Atlanta Dream 95-91 in an intense overtime thriller headlined by Clark\u2019s gleeful smile when Reese missed the game-winning layup<\/a> for the Dream. <\/p>\n

Caitlin Clark and the Fever defeated Angel Reese and the Dream in an intense overtime matchup on Aug. 16. AP Photo\/Brynn Anderson<\/p>\n

The Sunday matchup on Aug. 16 became ESPN\u2019s most-watched WNBA game <\/a>on cable, averaging 2.6 million viewers and peaking at 4 million. According to ESPN, the telecast ranks as the most-watch WNBA game ever, regular or postseason.<\/p>\n

The WNBA audience has increased by 178% compared to last year\u2019s ESPN coverage. <\/p>\n

The network has frequently aired Fever games as of late, with Sunday\u2019s game in Atlanta becoming the third game in the last two weeks to average more than 2.5 million viewers.<\/p>\n

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WNBA stars Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark have been rivals since their college days. NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Clark, though a polarizing figure in women\u2019s sports,<\/a> remains one of the top faces in the league. Her influence in the WNBA is palpable as the Indiana guard received flowers from a young fan ahead of the Fever\u2019s matchup against the Toronto Tempo Tuesday.<\/p>\n

The 24-year-old\u2019s popularity has evidently reached Canada. <\/p>\n

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Caitlin Clark remains one of the biggest faces in the WNBA, but is also a controversial figure in the league. Lawrence Cooper<\/p>\n

As for Reese, she made a name for herself as an elite rebounder out of LSU, where she led the school to its first National Championship. In the WNBA, she set the rookie double-double and various rebounding records. <\/p>\n

Reese has also made a cultural impact, venturing into the fashion world and beyond. <\/p>\n

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