Jul 20, 2024; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Team WNBA guard Caitlin Clark (22) dribbles alongside Team WNBA forward Angel Reese (5) against USA Women's National Team during the WNBA All Star Game at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

Fever-Sky Draws Strong Ratings Even Without Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese

Originally posted on Women's Fastbreak on SI
By Lou Orlando | Last updated Jul 29, 2025 3:34 PM ET

Sunday afternoon's tilt between the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky had something missing -- two of the WNBA's biggest names.

As Indiana defeated Chicago 93-78, improving to 3-0 in the season series, Fever guard Caitlin Clark and Sky forward Angel Reese watched from the sidelines.

Clark has been on the shelf since July 16, plagued with a right groin injury, while Reese was officially ruled out an hour before tipoff, missing her second consecutive game with a back injury.

But despite the absence of some extremely popular star power, the ABC broadcast still commanded one of the largest audiences in the league this season.

ABC Enjoys Big Audience Despite Clark, Reese Injuries

Sunday's 3:00 p.m. Fever-Sky matchup averaged 1.5 million viewers on ABC, "the network’s sixth-largest regular season WNBA audience, and one of the ten most-watched games this season", according to Sports Media Watch.

Sports Ratings Tracker:

“Despite the absence of both Caitlin Clarkand Angel Reese, Sunday’s Fever-Sky WNBA regular season game averaged 1.5 million viewers on ABC — the network’s sixth-largest regular season WNBA audience, and one of the ten most-watched games this season.” https://t.co/sAYnNAhgqt
— Vanshay Murdock (@VanshayM) July 29, 2025

That's a very respectable number, especially for a game that looked to be headed for a blowout at one point. The Fever led by as much as 16 points in the final minute of the second quarter, although Chicago would quickly narrow the gap in the second half.

Nonetheless, it's a positive sign that the WNBA can attract a national audience even if big-name stars like Clark and Reese are out of the lineup.

In fact, Sunday's matchup marks the second time this season that a Fever-Sky matchup has finished Top 10 in WNBA viewership despite Clark's absence.

Indiana continues to be involved in the WNBA's most popular games, as the Fever have been featured in the highest-rated telecasts this season.

This article first appeared on Women's Fastbreak on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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