WNBA’s Sky-Fever sport that includes controversial foul on Caitlin Clark averaged 1.53M viewers

By Alastair Talbot Printed: 23:11 BST, 4 June 2024 | Up to date: 23:15 BST, 4 June 2024

The WNBA’s Chicago Sky-Indiana Fever sport that featured the controversial foul on Caitlin Clark has averaged 1.53million viewers, resulting in a 346 p.c improve in viewers in contrast the league’s 2023 common season common on ESPN.In accordance with an NBA press launch obtained by Mail Sport on Tuesday, viewership for Saturday’s sport on ESPN peaked at 2.19M. What’s extra is the Fever’s first residence win of the 2024 season is the fourth-highest viewership of an WNBA sport within the final 22 years, in response to SportsMedia Watch.All 4 have featured Clark, together with her professional debut on Could 14 (2.12M viewers), a Could 18 sport towards the New York Liberty (1.71M viewers), and a Could 20 sport towards the Connecticut Solar (1.56M viewers).However Clark’s matchup towards Angel Reese partially attracted extra consideration due the 2 gamers’ rivalry from their school days, because the Sky ahead was seen celebrating Chennedy Carter’s chilly foul on the Fever level guard. Carter had shoulder-checked Clark previous to the ball being inbounded within the third quarter earlier than showing to name her opponent a ‘b****’.  Publish-game, the foul was upgraded to a flagrant-one. Saturday’s Fever-Sky sport is the fourth-highest viewership of an WNBA sport since 2002 The sport drew consideration within the third quarter as a result of Sky’s Chennedy Carter’s foul on ClarkIt additionally drew criticism from Fever head coach Christie Sides, who described the foul as ‘unacceptable,’ whereas common supervisor Lin Dunn stated ‘there is a distinction between powerful protection and pointless … It must cease!’Barely 24 hours after the sport on Sunday, Carter slammed Clark on social media after refusing to reply questions associated to the shove, insisting that she’d fairly be hated than to be cherished. Reese was handed a $1,000 superb by WNBA for not attending Saturday’s post-game convention and the Sky had been fined $5,000, as effectively. On Monday, Reese stated the foul was ‘simply competitors’ and expressed frustration at being much less standard than Clark, including: ‘The rationale why we’re watching ladies’s basketball isn’t just due to one individual. It is due to me, too.’ The Fever-Sky sport’s viewership numbers are primarily attributable to Clark’s rivalry with Angel ReeseFor her half, Clark stated she did not anticipate to be fouled so exhausting by Carter, ‘however it’s similar to, reply, relax and let your play do the speaking. It’s what it’s.’The foul was additionally a sizzling matter of debate inside sports activities media, as ESPN’s Pat McAfee drew criticism for his feedback.McAfee was discussing Clark’s influence within the WNBA and blasted reporters who stated the rise in reputation of the league was as a result of whole 2024 rookie class. ‘Nah, simply name it for what it’s, there’s one white b**** for the Indiana crew who’s a famous person,’ McAfee stated. He later apologized for his remarks on X, tweeting: ‘I’ve method an excessive amount of respect for her and ladies to place that into the universe… ‘My intentions when saying it had been complimentary similar to the whole phase, however a variety of people are saying that it actually wasn’t in any respect.’ 

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WNBA’s Sky-Fever sport that includes controversial foul on Caitlin Clark averaged 1.53M viewers

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