Caitlin Clark's professional debut is most-watched WNBA recreation in ESPN historical past, community says – NBC Information

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Greater than 2 million folks tuned in to see Caitlin Clark’s WNBA debut Tuesday, making it the most-watched recreation within the league’s historical past throughout the ESPN platforms, the community stated.
The sport drew 2.1 million viewers throughout the community’s platforms and peaked at 2.3 million, ESPN said in a statement Wednesday.
The scores topped the beforehand most-watched recreation throughout the community’s platforms, between the Phoenix Mercury and the Connecticut Solar on Might 22, 2004, ESPN stated.
Clark, the two-time national college player of the year, struggled for a lot of the recreation for the Indiana Fever, scoring 20 factors but additionally committing 10 turnovers in Connecticut’s 92-71 victory.
Final month, more than 18 million people tuned in to observe Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes in an NCAA title matchup in opposition to South Carolina. South Carolina received the sport, which drew extra eyes than the boys’s title recreation the day gone by.
It was the primary time the TV viewers was larger for the ladies’s ultimate than the boys’s, in line with Nielsen.
Clark stated Tuesday night time’s recreation left loads of room for enchancment.
“Clearly too many turnovers — that’s not going to get the job finished,” she stated. “There’s numerous issues to be taught from.”
She added: “I might have favored to have performed a little bit higher tonight.”
Clark’s first steps onto the skilled hardwood within the away recreation cut up followers’ loyalties.
Clark, who is named a deadly shooter, electrified followers by connecting on every of her 4 3-pointers. However smothering protection by Connecticut pressured her into double-digit turnovers, a recreation excessive.
Clark’s large enchantment led to a scores growth throughout her collegiate video games and elevated curiosity within the WNBA. Her celeb rises with each endorsement. She has appeared on a State Farm commercial and is reportedly set to signal a big contract with Nike.
Antonio Planas is a breaking information reporter for NBC Information Digital. 
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