If you thought the biggest sports story of the weekend would come out of Yankee Stadium, think again. Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and a hyped WNBA matchup delivered something the Subway Series couldn’t: more eyeballs on the screen.
While Juan Soto’s return to the Bronx brought its fair share of boos and headlines, Clark’s triple-double and a flagrant foul against Reese captured the attention of more viewers. According to ESPN PR, Saturday’s Indiana Fever vs. Chicago Sky showdown on ABC drew an average of 2.7 million viewers, peaking at 3.1 million. By comparison, Sunday night’s Mets-Yankees game on ESPN averaged 2.5 million, per Jimmy Traina of Sports Illustrated.
WNBA Showdown Tops Subway Series
Clark finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists as the Fever rolled to a 93–58 win. Reese countered with 12 points and 17 rebounds, but the scoreboard didn’t reflect the intensity on the floor. In the third quarter, Clark fouled Reese hard on a layup attempt, leading officials to call a flagrant 1. Reese confronted her before Aliyah Boston stepped in to separate them.
Both players brushed it off after the game. “Just a basketball play,” they said. But the numbers told a different story. ESPN announced Monday that the game was the most-watched WNBA broadcast ever on its platforms, marking a 115% jump from last year’s regular season average on ABC.
Meanwhile in the Bronx, Soto took the field for his third game as a Met after signing a massive 15-year, $765 million deal. Fans showered him with boos every time he stepped to the plate or jogged into right field. The moment felt big. But it didn’t beat the buzz Clark and Reese created.
Joe Pompliano summed it up well on X: “Yes, I know the WNBA was on ABC while MLB was on ESPN. But a 35-point WNBA blowout averaging more viewers than a Yankees vs. Mets game… is a wild outcome that no one could have seen coming years ago.”
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Yes, I know the WNBA was on ABC while MLB was on ESPN. But a 35-point WNBA blowout averaging more viewers than a Yankees vs. Mets game (combined with Juan Soto's return to Yankee Stadium) is a wild outcome that no one could have seen coming years ago. pic.twitter.com/Etr5TCJTtP
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) May 20, 2025
Before Clark and Reese even took the court, the Liberty-Aces game averaged 1.3 million viewers. That would’ve made headlines on any other weekend. But Clark’s presence changed the scale. As Colin Cowherd said, “Rivalries equal ratings.” And right now, Clark vs. Reese might be the rivalry sports didn’t know it needed.
Also Read: Caitlin Clark Responds Gracefully To Decision On WNBA Fine
