The WNBA has spent much of the past three seasons navigating comparisons between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark, but the league's latest television figures have provided a different perspective on its growing popularity.
Reese's first appearance in the WNBA Finals attracted a record audience, with 2.1 million viewers watching the Atlanta Dream face the Golden State Valkyries on NBC and Peacock.
Angel Reese’s teammates deliver iconic response after sarcastic remark about her on-court energy
The broadcast peaked at three million viewers despite Atlanta's 68-64 defeat, making it the most-watched opening game of a WNBA Finals series.
Those figures represented an 11 percent increase over the previous season's Game 1 audience, prompting supporters to revisit arguments about Clark's influence on women's basketball.
The record-breaking audience generated immediate reactions on social media, particularly among supporters who believe Reese hasn't received sufficient recognition for her influence.
"DON'T NEED CC! Iowa fans are in a coma over this," one fan wrote on X after the viewing figures emerged.
Another supporter argued that Reese's presence had contributed to the impressive audience.
"I thought people weren't watching. This is that Angel Reese effect. Love to see it," the fan commented.
Others questioned suggestions that the WNBA would struggle to maintain interest without Clark participating in its championship series.
However, the ratings alone cannot establish how many viewers tuned in specifically to watch Reese or whether Clark's popularity influenced broader interest in the league.
Why Angel Reese attracts WNBA viewers
Former WNBA star Sheryl Swoopes had already offered a strong defense of Reese before the championship series began.
Appearing on The Draymond Green Show, Swoopes argued that the Atlanta forward attracts considerable attention from both supporters and critics.
"You should tune into the finals because of Angel Reese," Swoopes said. "She alone is worth the price of the ticket...
"Angel is gonna have people watching this because there's a large consortium of people who want to see her succeed; there's an even larger group of people who want to see her fail, and they're gonna watch to see her fail."
Reese's move from the Chicago Sky to Atlanta in April has provided an opportunity to compete for a championship after two frustrating seasons in Chicago.
Reese delivers dominant performance
The attention surrounding Reese was followed by one of the most impressive performances of her professional career.
She scored 30 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in Atlanta's 79-65 Game 2 victory, helping the Dream level the championship series at 1-1.
The performance underlined Reese's importance to an Atlanta team attempting to secure its first WNBA championship.
During the regular season, she averaged 16.4 points and 12.1 rebounds, establishing herself as one of the league's most productive interior players.
The series now shifts to Atlanta, where Reese will have another opportunity to influence the championship race.
While comparisons with Clark continue to dominate online discussions, Reese's Finals performances and the record television audience have demonstrated the wider appeal of a league with multiple recognizable stars.