Fever-Wings Sets Another WNBA Landmark

The WNBA cashed in on the primary skilled assembly between Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark over the weekend.

College was something however out for summer season within the WNBA’s newest scores landmark, which noticed two of probably the most completed names in latest faculty basketball reminiscence do skilled battle for the primary time.

ESPN introduced Sunday’s broadcast of the Dallas Wings’ weekend showdown with the Indiana Fever averaged 2.1 million viewers, good for the fourth most-watched broadcast on ABC airwaves that started carrying the W in 2003. The sport featured the primary WNBA showdown between Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark, the highest picks of the final two NBA Drafts, with the latter’s Fever incomes a 102-83 victory that was by no means shut after the opening half.

Nonetheless, yet one more Fever sport involving Clark labored viewership wonders for the league, because the W’s sophomore sensation put up a 14-point, 13-assist double-double in abbreviated effort led to by her restoration from decrease physique accidents. With viewership peaking at 2.5 million, Sunday’s sport was in a position to preserve tempo with the ABC record-holder, which noticed as many as 3.1 million watch the Fever take down the Chicago Sky throughout opening weekend in Might.

Kelsey Mitchell (20), Natasha Howard (18), and Aliyah Boston (17) united for 55 factors because the Fever (11-10) rolled to a 19-point triumph to enhance to 4-2 in July, which features a Clark-less victory over the Minnesota Lynx within the Commissioner’s Cup Ultimate. 

For her half, Bueckers had 21 factors on 9-of-15 from the sphere as Dallas (6-16) continues to enhance after shedding all however certainly one of its first dozen in her freshman tour. The go to to Indianapolis was one of many extra anticipated dates on Bueckers’ rookie calendar, as the 2 waged a few high-profile battles on the collegiate degree. Bueckers’ UConn Huskies disposed of Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes within the 2021 regional semifinals earlier than the latter earned revenge with a slender victory within the Ultimate 4 three years later. 

ABC cameras will probably be again in Indianapolis this weekend, because the Fever’s dwelling of Gainbridge Fieldhouse is ready to host the 2025 WNBA All-Star Sport on Saturday evening (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC/Disney+/ESPN+).

Clark is captaining a crew that may face one other led by Napheesa Collier of the league-leading Minnesota Lynx, their squads assembled by way of a fantasy draft format. Clark’s group managed to amass Fever teammates Boston and Mitchell, whereas Bueckers is on Collier’s aspect alongside fellow UConn alumnae Collier and Breanna Stewart (New York). 

Geoff Magliocchetti is on X @GeoffJMags