WNBA Season Opener Draws Significant Viewership

The WNBA made a smart move by setting up the season opener between Kate Rinklerk and the Indiana Fever against Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky. This matchup, stemming from their college rivalry, really paid off for the league. Even though the game ended in a lopsided 93-58 victory for the Sky, it captured a solid audience, averaging 2.7 million viewers and peaking at 3.1 million.

This game also marked a remarkable 115% increase in average viewership compared to last year’s regular season games aired on ABC. Some might wonder if Caitlyn Clark played a role in this uptick. Last year’s champions, the Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty, saw average viewership numbers as well, but it seems Clark and Reese’s rivalry really stole the spotlight.

Interestingly, the WNBA match outperformed last year’s All-Star Game, which garnered an impressive 3.4 million viewers and featured both Clark and Reese. However, while last year’s games surpassed the season opener in terms of viewer count, the data shows the significance of the rivalry between Clark and Reese.

As a comparison, ABC’s NBA games attract an average of about 2.8 million viewers, slightly outpacing the numbers seen during the season opener with Clark and Reese.