The WNBA has experienced a significant transformation this year.

With the introduction of former Iowa standout Caitlin Clark and her rookie peers, the league has seen unprecedented television viewership. In 2023, WNBA games aired on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, CBS, ION, and NBA TV attracted an average audience of 462,000 viewers. According to league reports, this number nearly tripled in the opening month of the 2024 season, with an average of 1.32 million viewers tuning in to these same networks.

Games featuring Caitlin Clark and fellow rookie Angel Reese have particularly stood out in ratings. Their recent matchups have become the most-watched since a memorable Memorial Day 2001 game between the Los Angeles Sparks and Houston Comets, drawing 2.44 million viewers. For instance, the Indiana Fever’s victory over the Chicago Sky on June 16 attracted 2.25 million viewers on CBS. Similarly, the Sky’s thrilling comeback win over the Fever on a recent Sunday garnered 2.30 million viewers on ESPN.

In their latest clash, both Clark and Reese achieved record-breaking performances in the budding Fever-Sky rivalry. Clark made history as the first rookie to score 15 or more points, deliver 10 or more assists, and hit five or more 3-pointers in a WNBA game. Additionally, Clark set the Indiana Fever’s single-game assists record with 13 against the Sky. Meanwhile, Reese achieved a career-best 25 points and 16 rebounds, extending her streak of consecutive double-doubles to eight, a new WNBA rookie record.

Reese’s dominance on the boards has been notable, ranking second in the league with 11.1 rebounds per game. Her recent performance against Indiana, where she recorded 25 points and 16 rebounds, brings her close to matching Candace Parker’s single-season double-double streak from 2015.

Reese’s immediate impact in rebounding was evident, although she initially struggled to convert around the basket. Advice from Atlanta Dream center Tina Charles earlier this month, urging her to take her time when scoring, has notably boosted Reese’s field goal percentage. Since June 8, Reese has shot at least 50% in four of six games, marking a significant improvement.

With both Clark and Reese leading the pack in WNBA Rookie Rankings, it appears they are in contention for the Rookie of the Year Award once the season concludes. Isabel Gonzalez of CBS Sports currently ranks Reese at the top, highlighting her stellar rebounding and overall performance.

Following Reese and Clark, Gonzalez’s top five rookies also include Kamilla Cardoso of the Chicago Sky at No. 3, Rickea Jackson of the Los Angeles Sparks at No. 4, and Jacy Sheldon of the Dallas Wings at No. 5.