The WNBA preseason kicked off with an electrifying debut as Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese stepped onto the court as professional athletes for the first time on Friday night. These two stars, celebrated for their collegiate prowess, finally donned their professional jerseys, igniting anticipation among fans.

Clark, renowned for shattering the NCAA Division I scoring record, showcased her skills as her Indiana Fever clashed with the Dallas Wings in Arlington. Despite a heart-pounding finish where Clark narrowly missed a game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer, her performance shone bright. Scoring 21 points, including five impressive 3-pointers, Clark proved her mettle on the court.

On the other side, Reese, fresh from leading LSU to an NCAA title in 2023, graced the court as her Chicago Sky battled the Minnesota Lynx in Minneapolis. While the Sky couldn't clinch a victory, Reese's 13 points and nine rebounds displayed her promise as a force to be reckoned with in the league.

However, the WNBA's preseason excitement faced a hiccup with broadcasting issues. Despite initial promises of coverage on WNBA League Pass, fans were left disappointed as only one game was accessible through the platform. Yet, the fervor of supporters prevailed when a devoted Lynx fan stepped up to livestream the Sky vs. Lynx matchup, attracting a staggering 170,000 viewers.

In the build-up to the season, anticipation grows as Clark, the top pick in this year's draft, prepares to join forces with last year's standout rookie Aaliyah Boston. Their addition injects hope into the Fever, who strive to break their playoff drought since 2016. Meanwhile, the Sky, led by Reese and bolstered by the addition of 6-foot-7 Kamilla Cardoso, aim to reverse their fortunes after ranking at the bottom of the WNBA teams.

As the WNBA season draws nearer, the debut of Clark and Reese marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in women's basketball, promising thrills, and unforgettable moments on the court.

In a recent interview with 670 The Score, Dawn Staley, Cardoso's coach, didn't hold back in praising Caitlin Clark, attributing her as the driving force behind the recent surge in viewership in women's basketball. Staley went as far as to label Clark as the "sole reason" for the growth witnessed in the sport. Her endorsement comes on the heels of the NCAA championship game, which drew a staggering 18.9 million viewers per ESPN, marking it as the most-watched college basketball game ever aired on the network.

She's the greatest of her time. I want women's basketball to grow, and I'm not too shy about saying why it grows. She's made it grow over the past two years," Staley emphasized during the interview, highlighting Clark's monumental impact on the sport's popularity.

Meanwhile, the WNBA preseason is in full swing, slated to continue until next Friday, with the regular season set to tip-off on May 14. As the anticipation builds for the official start of the season, Rishi Rajagopalan, a prominent social media associate producer and content writer for CBS News, keeps fans informed and engaged with his insightful coverage of the league.

As the WNBA preseason marches on and the regular season looms closer, the spotlight remains firmly on the rising stars of women's basketball like Caitlin Clark, whose influence transcends the court, driving unprecedented growth in viewership. With passionate advocates like Dawn Staley championing the sport's expansion, and dedicated professionals like Rishi Rajagopalan amplifying its reach through insightful coverage, the stage is set for an exhilarating season ahead. As fans eagerly await the tip-off on May 14th, anticipation is high, fueled by the promise of thrilling competition and the continued ascent of women's basketball onto the global stage.