Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese offer WNBA a 'Bird-Magic moment,' commissioner says

Whether fans are Team Caitlin or Team Angel, they're paying more attention to the WNBA than ever before.

Commissioner Cathy Englebert joined CNBC this week, saying that rookies Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever and Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky have injected enthusiasm into the league, powering record attendance and viewership.

Engelbert said it's reminiscent of what Magic Johnson and Larry Bird provided the NBA in the early 1980s.

"It's a little of that Bird-Magic moment, if you recall, from 1979, when those two rookies came in from a big college rivalry, one white, one black. So we have that moment with these two.

"One thing I know about sports: You need rivalries. That's what makes people watch games of consequence. ... They don't want everyone being nice to one another."

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Clark was picked first overall, and Reese seventh in the 2024 WNBA Draft. The Fever have reached the playoffs for the first time since 2016, and the Sky are battling for the eighth playoff spot.

Engelbert acknowledged that some fans of each player have been unkind on social media, but added their presence has helped the WNBA get a huge bump in its new media rights deal .

"One thing that's great about the league right now is the intersection of culture, sports, fashion," she said. "The WNBA players are looked at as cultural icons. When you have that, you have a lot of attention on you. There's no more apathy. Everybody cares."

Caitlin Clark stats for Indiana Fever

19.2 points, a league-leading 8.7 assists, 5.8 rebounds, 34.7% 3-point shooting, 90.7% free throw shooting.

Angel Reese stats for Chicago Sky

13.6 points, a league-leading 13.1 rebounds, 1.3 steals. A wrist injury ended her season after 34 games.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese offer WNBA a 'Bird-Magic moment,' commissioner says