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Sunday’s WNBA matchup between the Indiana Fever and Phoenix Mercury has plenty of eyes on it.
Richard Deitsch of The Athletic reported that the 88-82 Fever victory had 1.9 million viewers, which is the second most-watched WNBA game on ESPN ever. The most-viewed WNBA game ever on ESPN was the Fever’s matchup against the Chicago Sky on June 23.
It’s safe to say star power was a factor in the ratings. Caitlin Clark, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, has been a ratings draw since her college days. Diana Taurasi, who plays for the Mercury, is one of the most decorated players in league history.
The rookie’s team got the best of the veteran’s team in this one. Clark scored 15 points and added 12 assists and nine rebounds. Taurasi had 19 points, three rebounds and three assists.
This was the first of three matchups between the franchises this season, with one coming on July 12 and the other happening on August 16. Indiana is currently 8-12 while Phoenix is 9-9.
The next matchup will surely hope to challenge the rating from the first one, and it will be happening in prime time as it’s set to tip-off at 7:30 p.m. ET.