Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark’s First WNBA Matchup Moved to ESPN
The Indiana Fever’s initial matchup with the Chicago Sky this season, featuring Caitlin Clark’s first WNBA game against college foe Angel Reese, has been moved from NBA TV to ESPN, as reported by Sports Media Watch. Both teams will compete against each other on June 1.
ESPN’s decision is simply common sense. Clark has generated never-before-seen interest in women’s basketball in the past few months, with Iowa’s matches against Angel Reese and LSU being a significant factor. The game between the Hawkeyes and Tigers last month attracted 12.3 million viewers on the same network, becoming the most-watched women’s college basketball game in history.
The record was surpassed two more times during Iowa’s following games, reaching a peak of 18.7 million viewers for the championship game defeat to South Carolina. The Final Four game between Iowa and UConn was the most viewed basketball game in history, whether men’s or women’s, college or professional, with 14.2 million viewers.
Clark is not the sole focus of interest. Angel Reese’s first game of the preseason was not shown on TV, but many people watched her play via a spontaneous live broadcast on X.
Angel Reese in her WNBA Debut:
12 PTS
7 RBS
1 AST
1 STL
5-13 FGThoughts? pic.twitter.com/QKouNOPNtf
— I talk hoops 🏀 (@trendyhoopstars) May 16, 2024
It’s not surprising that ESPN would want to take advantage of the Clark-Reese rivalry now that both women are professional. Angel Reese gained immense popularity for guiding LSU to a national championship victory against Iowa last year but also faced criticism for her trash-talking toward Clark at the end of the game.
Both athletes have emphasized that there is no personal animosity driving their rivalry, and have even welcomed their intertwined successes.
In the course of her first season in the WNBA, players on Caitlin Clark’s team have recorded zero wins and two defeats. Besides, the Fever is in no position. Shooting just 7-of-23 (30. 4%) from the field and returning 13 turnovers, the number one overall pick saw no consistent scoring from him for the entirety of the game. For all the criticism that will certainly come, it’s not the time to hit the panic button either since it’s not like she’s had the time to practice with her team for a month after joining them and 39 days since ending her college career. Diana Taurasi wasn’t wrong.
Sabrina Ionescu talks about Caitlin Clark’s adjustment to the WNBA and hosting her on a visit to Oregon when she was deciding where to go to college
“I just know she’s gonna continue to work really hard and stick with it. Good things will happen to good people.” pic.twitter.com/thI8tDfs4C
— New York Liberty Videos (@SNYLiberty) May 17, 2024
For instance, Angel Reese made his debut opener of the season as the Wings fell 87-79 to the Sky on Wednesday. Across her second WNBA appearance, she would be chosen seventh overall and joined together with the South Carolina star, Kamilla Cardoso, in the paint. In her first regular game, she got 12 points on 5-of-14 shooting, with eight rebounds and two turnovers.
Here’s a look at the 2024 WNBA Draft first round picks:
1. Caitlin Clark — Indiana
2. Cameron Brink — LA Sparks
3. Kamilla Cardoso — Chicago Sky
4. Rickea Jackson — LA Sparks
5. Jacy Sheldon — Dallas Wings
6. Aaliyah Edwards — Washington Mystics
7. Angel Reese — Chicago Sky
8.… pic.twitter.com/C3nUBsyt7W— I talk hoops 🏀 (@trendyhoopstars) April 16, 2024
The 1st of June matchup probably won’t feature a rematch of the first round between Clark and Cardoso as in the shoulder injury, the Brazilian heavyweight fighter will be out for a long period.