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CBS Suffers Huge Blow In Caitlin Clark vs. Angel Reese Rivalry

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated May 27, 2025 11:37 AM ET

The Indiana Fever must forge ahead without Caitlin Clark, who will miss at least two weeks with a left quad strain. Her absence could hurt TV networks as much as the Fever.

Clark has helped the WNBA's popularity soar since her arrival. Indiana's first four games were all nationally televised and streamed, and the same applies to most ensuing matchups the reigning Rookie of the Year will miss.

Unless Clark returns sooner than anticipated, she'll sit out a primetime matchup against a burgeoning rival. CBS will televise a rematch between the Fever and Chicago Sky on Saturday, June 7.

Clark and Angel Reese have attracted a vast viewership whenever their paths cross. Indiana began its 2025 season with a 93-58 rout over Chicago. The matchup drew 2.7 million viewers for ABC, making it the most-watched regular-season WNBA game since 2000.

On June 16, the Fever and Sky delivered the highest-rated game of the 2024 season (at the time) on CBS. A week later, those teams played the most-watched regular-season contest in 23 years on ESPN.

Those remained the highest-rated games of the regular season. According to Sportico, last year's 16th-highest-rated games (including the playoffs) all featured Clark and the Fever. That list includes all four Fever-Sky matchups.

CBS also experienced the "Caitlin Clark Effect" last year when 1.87 million viewers witnessed the Fever upset the New York Liberty on July 6. The network has yet to release the ratings for last Saturday's rematch, which saw the Liberty notch a dramatic 90-88 win in Clark's last game.

Without the ability to drive animosity between Clark and Angel Reese, people might have to ... *gasps* ... discuss the actual basketball game.

Although Clark began her sophomore campaign with a triple-double on May 17, the attention shifted to one contentious moment between her and Reese. Clark received a flagrant foul after making hard contact with Reese, who got up and shouted at the fellow All-Star.

Clark's absence could provide her Fever teammates with an opportunity to seize the spotlight. Aliyah Boston is off to a dominant start, averaging 18.5 points per game on 60.8 percent shooting with 10.8 rebounds and 2.0 blocks.

CBS will air the latest Fever-Sky showdown next Saturday at 8 p.m. ET.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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