WNBA All-Star Game draws record 3.44 million viewers

NEW YORK — The WNBA All-Star Game drew a record number of viewers with 3.44 million people watching the contest in Phoenix on Saturday night.

The game, which saw the WNBA All-Stars beat the U.S. Olympic team 117-109, easily topped the 1.44 million that viewed the 2003 contest. Saturday's game peaked with more than 4 million viewers.

It was the third-most-viewed WNBA event ever and the largest audience for the league since its first two nationally televised games in 1997.

Last year's game, which was also on prime time TV, drew 850,000 viewers.

This was the 17th WNBA game this season that has had more than 1 million viewers with rookie Caitlin Clark appearing in 15 of them.

The Fever rookie had four points and 10 assists in Saturday's contest.

Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale was named All-Star MVP for her record-breaking performance. She finished with 34 points — all of which she scored in the second half — and six assists. It was the most points scored in a WNBA All-Star Game.

Sky rookie Angel Reese had a double-double (12 points, 11 rebounds) in the game.