Caitlin Clark vs. Angel Reese season debut set ESPN viewership record for WNBA games

The 2025 WNBA season debut for Caitlin Clark vs. Angel Reese made ratings history for ESPN. The four-letter network recently announced that the game between the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever averaged 2.7 million viewers with a peak of 3.1 million. It was the most-watched WNBA game ever on ESPN platforms, including regular season and postseason games.

Caitlin Clark and the Fever defeated Angel Reese and the Sky 93-58. The two players have battled each other since their days in college and Saturday’s game featured another talked-about moment. In the third quarter, Reese grabbed an offensive rebound, and Clark slapped Reese’s arm hard enough to knock the ball loose and put Reese to the floor. Reese attempted to confront Clark before Fever center Aliyah Boston stepped in between the two players. Clark was hit with a flagrant 1 foul, while Reese and Boston received technical fouls.

The most-watched WNBA opening weekend EVER on ESPN platforms 👏

Sky-Fever
🏀 2.7M avg. viewers, 3.1M peak
🏀 Most-watched WNBA game EVER on ESPN platforms

Aces-Liberty
🏀 1.3M avg. viewers, 1.9M peak pic.twitter.com/SWMHmNwXrb

— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) May 20, 2025

“Let’s not make it something that it’s not,” Clark said after the game, per the Associated Press. “It was just a good play on the basketball. I’m not sure what the ref saw to upgrade it, and that’s up to their discretion. It’s a take foul to put them at the free-throw line. I’ve watched a lot of basketball in my life, that’s exactly what it was. I wasn’t trying to do anything malicious. That’s not the type of player I am.”

Caitlin Clark explains foul on Angel Reese

“I went for the ball, clear as day in the replay,” Clark added. “You watch it, you know it shouldn’t have been upgraded. Again, that’s up to the refs’ discretion, but I appreciate A.B. having my back.”

Social media posts during the game said hateful remarks or noises were made toward Reese after the incident. The WNBA launched an investigation, and Clark shared her reaction while speaking to reporters on Monday.

“There’s no place for that in our game, there’s no place for that in society,” she said, per ESPN. “Certainly, we want every person who comes into our arena — whether player or fan — to have a great experience. I appreciate the league doing that [investigation]. I appreciate that the Fever organization has been at the forefront of that.”