Fever-Sun Game 2, the final game of Caitlin Clark's rookie season, draws record WNBA playoff viewership for ESPN

Caitlin Clark helped the WNBA achieve several record viewership numbers in her first season. So it should come as no surprise that the final game of their rookie season drew a large crowd.

Game 2 of the WNBA first-round playoff game between the Indiana Fever and Connecticut Sun averaged 2.54 million viewers on ESPN on Wednesday, according to Sports Media Watch. The peak audience was 3.4 million viewers.

That's the largest viewership ever for a WNBA game on cable television and the highest for a postseason contest since Western Conference Final Game 2 in 1999, featuring the Los Angeles Sparks against the Houston Comets, which averaged 2.62 Reached millions of viewers.

The broadcast also ranks among the top 10 highest viewership numbers in league history. (To be precise, it slides in at #9.)

The Sun defeated the Fever 87-81, ending the best-of-2 series and ending Clark's rookie season. Connecticut reached the WNBA semifinals and will face the Minnesota Lynx starting Sunday.

Clark finished the final game of her season with 25 points, nine assists and six rebounds. She joined Maya Moore as the second rookie in league history to record 25 points, five assists and five rebounds in a playoff game. Aliyah Boston grabbed 19 rebounds and 16 points for the Fever, while Kelsey Mitchell finished with 17 points.

The Suns were led by Alyssa Thomas with 19 points and 13 assists, followed by Marina Mabrey with 17 points and DeWanna Bonner with 15 points and eight rebounds.

Game 2's number follows Game 1's viewership of 1.84 million (on an NFL Sunday), which was the highest viewership for a WNBA playoff game since 2003. Connecticut defeated Indiana 93-69.

The Lynx's series win over the Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday night showcased the WNBA's growing popularity, drawing 1.22 million viewers. According to the network, this was ESPN's third highest ratings for a WNBA postseason game.