When NBA legend Magic Johnson sees Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese set viewership records for the WNBA, he says he thinks of his rivalry with Larry Bird in the 1970s and 1980s.
A matchup between Clark’s Indiana Fever and Reese’s Chicago Sky drew 2.3 million TV viewers on Sunday, becoming the most-watched WNBA game in 23 years. It’s only the latest evidence of how the two, along with a group of dynamic young stars, are impacting women’s basketball.
“Larry and I heightened the NBA’s overall popularity. The Lakers and Celtics sold out arenas throughout the league and increased television viewership exponentially,” the Hall of Famer wrote. “Caitlin and Angel are now doing the same thing, selling out arenas and increasing the viewership.” Through the first month of the 2024 season, the WNBA set a new high for viewership and drew 60% more in-person fans. Even games that don’t feature Clark and Reese have attracted record interest — the Las Vegas Aces and Dallas Wings sold out their season tickets without the addition of a top rookie.
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