This report spanned the week from May 27 through June 2. In total, there were 17 games played during this one-week timeframe. The largest attendance for the week belongs to the Liberty on Sunday, June 2 (17,401). Additionally, the Indiana Fever had their third sell-out of the season on June 1 (17,274). The smallest attendance for the week once again goes to the Atlanta Dream for their sold-out game on June 2 (3,265).
After three weeks, overall league attendance is up by 40 percent compared to last year’s final average (6,615). The Indiana Fever has the largest increase from 2023 (+12,504). Currently, three teams are below their final average from 2023 (Phoenix, Minnesota, and Washington). Newly added to the report this week is away team attendance.
This is the average each team has for their away games for the season. The Fever lead the way with 15,315 and have sold out all six away games. Surprisingly, the Las Vegas Aces have the lowest away average with 5,712 but have had only two away games (at Minnesota and Atlanta).
Below is the graphic comparing to the 2023 season’s final averages. The reported capacity numbers for each arena are based on the team’s arena being fully open. Capacity numbers are provided by each team’s individual arena’s website. Also reported are each team’s individual high and low games for the season. Finally, all attendance numbers are provided through Acrossthetimeline.com.
This upcoming week will once again see 17 games being played. The week’s featured game will be the Connecticut Sun hosting the New York Liberty on Saturday, June 8 (1:00 pm on ABC).
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The latest clash between the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky may not include Caitlin Clark or Angel Reese. Clark will miss the game due to her right groin injury while the health of Reese's back will determine whether she's on the floor when her Sky squad hosts the Fever on Sunday afternoon. Reese missed Chicago's 95-57 loss to the visiting Seattle Storm on Thursday and was listed as questionable by the Sky late Saturday afternoon. It should be noted Reese was listed with the same label prior to sitting out against Seattle. Reese is averaging 13.8 points and a league-best 12.5 rebounds. Clark is out for the fourth straight regular-season contest -- she also sat out last weekend's All-Star game -- due to her third injury of the season. She missed time with left groin and left quadriceps ailments earlier this season and has missed 13 games overall. The Fever (13-12) are getting used to playing without Clark. "If we have Caitlin, great," Indiana forward Sophie Cunningham said after scoring 15 points in Thursday's 80-70 home victory over the Las Vegas Aces. "And we know how to play with her. If we don't have Caitlin, great, we know how to play without her. And I think that's just so important." All-Star guard Kelsey Mitchell has thrived by scoring 20 points or more in five of Indiana's past six games. Mitchell ranks fourth in the WNBA in scoring at 19.6 points per game. Mitchell scored 21 points against the Aces. Natasha Howard was 6-of-9 shooting and had 18 points and 13 rebounds. "Our defense got our offense going," Howard said postgame on Thursday. "That's how we make games like that. We don't rely on our offense a lot. We rely on our defense. ... When our defense is going, our offense is going." Chicago (7-17) has dropped four straight games by an average of 27.8 points. Three of the losses have been by more than 20 points, including an 86-49 loss to the Atlanta Dream and a 91-68 setback against the Minnesota Lynx. Veteran guard Rachel Banham was critical of the team's competitive level after the 38-point loss to Seattle. "It felt gross," Banham said after scoring 13 points. "It's probably how you guys look at it. We're just not consistent. It just feels gross. This is gross basketball, and we know that." Sky coach Tyler Marsh surely recognized what Banham observed. "Right now, the message is to compete," Marsh said. "... We're looking for fight, we're looking for competitors." Chicago leading scorer Ariel Atkins (13.9 points per game) will miss her fourth straight game due to a leg injury. Indiana won the first two meetings with the Sky this season by an average of 31 points.
There may be more to Christian Wilkins’ recent surprise release from the Las Vegas Raiders. NFL reporter Josina Anderson reported Saturday that "some sources believe an incident involving a teammate may have factored in-part into the Raiders' fatigue and release" of Wilkins. The nature of the incident is not clear. However, many believe the Raiders had a very good reason to move on from Wilkins considering the money they had invested in him. It also suggests the Raiders saw no alternative if they went straight to a release. Wilkins was dumped by the Raiders just one year into a four-year, $110 million deal. The Raiders suggested Wilkins failed to take rehab seriously as he tries to work his way back from a foot injury. Other teams do not appear to have the same concerns about Wilkins as the Raiders did, and he should find a new landing spot fairly easily. That is one of the reasons some suspect there is more to the Raiders’ decision than they are publicly saying.
The New York Yankees had been on the search for a right-handed hitting infielder. They found their man late Saturday night. Jack Curry from YES Network reported that the Yankees acquired infielder Amed Rosario from the Nationals. In exchange, the Yankees are sending pitcher Clayton Beeter and minor league outfielder Browm Martinez to Washington. The Yankees had been looking for a right-handed hitting infielder in the wake of acquiring third baseman Ryan McMahon on Friday. Rosario is exactly the type of player the Yankees had sought - a solid option capable of playing second and third. He had posted a .270/.310/.426 batting line in 158 plate appearances entering Saturday, hitting five homers and eight doubles. Rosario's greatest attribute for the Yankees is his ability to hit left-handed pitching. He has a .299/.333/.483 batting line in 99 plate appearances against lefties this season, with three homers and seven doubles. He and McMahon should form a solid platoon at the hot corner in New York. However, the Yankees paid a steep price to bring Rosario on board for the next several months. Beeter had been ranked as the Yankees' 20th-best prospect per MLB.com, with his upper-90s fastball and wipeout slider both considered plus offerings. He has operated strictly as a reliever this season, where both his ability to miss bats and questionable command have been apparent. Martinez had been considered a player to watch heading into the season by FanGraphs, citing his solid contact rates and projectability. The 18-year-old is years away from making an impact, but has posted an impressive .404/.507/.632 batting line in 69 plate appearances in the Dominican Summer League, hitting three homers and four doubles while stealing 13 bases. His ability to make contact has been impressive, as Martinez has drawn six walks with just eight strikeouts this season. A promotion stateside could be in the cards before the end of the year.
New York Yankees star Aaron Judge missed Saturday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies with an elbow injury, and the slugger is now headed to the injured list. The Yankees fell 9-4 to the Phillies on Saturday at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, N.Y., which marked their third consecutive loss. Judge played in Friday night's 12-5 loss to Philadelphia, but Aaron Boone announced before Saturday's game that Judge was dealing with an "elbow issue" and would sit out. Following his team's latest loss, Boone shared some new information about Judge's injury. Judge has been diagnosed with a flexor strain, but the Yankees believe he can return in less than two weeks. When Judge returns to the lineup, Boone said it will initially be as a designated hitter. Judge is having an outstanding season. He entered Saturday batting .342, which is the best mark in baseball. The reigning American League MVP has 37 home runs, 85 RBI and a 1.160 OPS. The Yankees are now six games behind the AL East-leading Toronto Blue Jays and fighting to remain atop the wild-card race. It goes without saying that they are hopeful Judge will be able to return as soon as possible.
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