The 2024 WNBA Draft Class was one of the most intriguing groups of rookies we have seen in a while. Particularly Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark showed out, drawing a lot of attention to the WNBA and booking their first trips to the WNBA All-Star Weekend. Wanting to make the most of their popularity, the WNBA scheduled the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever to play each other on national TV in their season openers.
After a game between the Sky and Fever became the most-watched game of the regular season in 2024, the league decided to put two of the teams’ matchups on national TV during primetime. No game in the early 2025 season is as anticipated as Caitlin Clark’s and Angel Reese’s sophomore debuts. The fact that both teams look much improved—the Fever are a legitimate championship contender and the Sky added several veterans—and the Sky drafted Hailey Van Lith should only make the game more exciting.
All of that attention also comes with a lot of pressure, however. All eyes will be on Reese and Clark on May 17. Fans love to scrutinize stars. Reese and Clark learned that the hard way as rookies. A game on such a big stage will only invite additional criticism.
Sue Bird’s latest viewership prediction only increases that pressure.
Sue Bird expects record-breaking viewership numbers for Angel Reese’s sophomore debut
After the WNBA broke several viewership and attendance records last season, everyone expects big things for the 2025 season, including Seattle Storm legend Sue Bird. On her podcast A Touch More, Bird was asked to predict viewership numbers for the WNBA’s first set of nationally televised games.
“We have not seen Caitlin Clark play in a long time,” Bird said about the Fever’s matchup against the Sky. “And it’s against Angel Reese. So, my guess there is we’re going to see like three-plus million, which I’m sure will smash some record.”
Over three million viewers is quite the audience for a game featuring two stars just entering their second season. It also significantly more than what Bird predicted the game between the New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces would draw in terms of viewership, even though the Liberty and Aces feature several established stars and championship rings.
While this game is a unique opportunity for Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark to add to their resume, it also puts a lot of pressure on them to perform well right out of the gate. Especially Reese will be under the microscope. She received plenty of criticism centered around her inefficiency as a scorer. After an offseason filled with workouts and a successful season playing in Unrivaled, that should look much different, and everyone will want to see what kind of improvements Reese made over the winter.