Caitlin Clark headlines most-watched WNBA game in more than 20 years

The Caitlin Clark effect is showing no signs of slowing down. 

The Indiana Fever rookie put up a team-high of 23 points and nine assists in Sunday’s win over the Chicago Sky in what was the most-watched WNBA game on any network in 23 years. 

An average of 2.25 million people tuned to CBS to watch the rematch between Clark and Chicago’s Angel Reese. The Fever’s 91-83 victory peaked at nearly 3 million viewers. 

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Clark’s big night, which featured Reese being assessed a flagrant-1 foul for hitting the former Iowa star in the head with her arm, followed a rough contest against Atlanta in which the No. 1 pick had seven points, six assists and seven turnovers. 

But despite the expected growing pains of her first year in the pros, fans are continuing to tune in and show up to watch Clark. 

CAITLIN CLARK TALKS GOING UP AGAINST ANGEL REESE: 'PEOPLE JUST LOVE SEEING GREAT MATCHUPS'

Earlier this month, the WNBA announced that May marked the highest attended opening month in 26 years and the most-watched start of the season ever across every network. 

This unprecedented growth in viewership and attendance this season has much to do with this year’s rookie class. According to the league, "four of the five moments that drove the most engagement on social channels" included highlights of Clark, Reese, Cameron Brink of the Los Angeles Sparks, or Las Vegas Aces’ Kate Martin. 

"What’s happening now in women’s basketball is confirmation of what we’ve always known: The demand is there, and women’s sports is a valuable investment," Chief Growth Officer Colie Edison said in a statement last week. 

"We’re encouraged by growing engagement across all our verticals, especially as we welcome new and diverse audiences into our fandom. The WNBA continues to experience sustained growth as our league embraces this heightened momentum."

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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Justin Timberlake insisted he only had 'one martini,' refused breathalyzer test before DWI arrest

Justin Timberlake refused a breathalyzer test in the early morning hours of June 18 after failing to make a stop and failing to stay in his lane while driving down Madison St. in the Hamptons.

When pulled over by authorities, Timberlake "performed poorly on all standardized field sobriety tests," the arresting officer claimed in documents obtained by Fox News Digital.

Timberlake, 43, told the arresting officer he had one martini and was following some friends home, according to the documents. After being arrested and taken to a police station in nearby East Hampton, he refused a breath test, said the court papers, which listed his occupation as "professional" and said he's "self-employed."

The *NSYNC member had "bloodshot and glossy" eyes, a "strong odor of an alcoholic beverage was emanating from his breath" and he was "unable to divide attention," according to the complaint. The "Cry Me A River" singer also exhibited "slowed speech" and was "unsteady afoot."

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE ARRESTED, ACCUSED OF DRUNK DRIVING

Timberlake's refusal of a breathalyzer test could "complicate" his legal proceedings, a legal expert explained to Fox News Digital.

"It's not uncommon for individuals arrested on suspicion of DWI to refuse a breathalyzer test," Tray Gober, a Texas trial attorney dealing with DWI cases, explained. "This decision can be motivated by various factors, including prior advice from legal counsel or a misunderstanding of the legal implications."

"Typically, such refusal triggers an automatic suspension of a driver’s license under implied consent laws, which state that drivers implicitly consent to sobriety tests when they obtain their licenses," he added. "Additionally, the refusal can be introduced in court as evidence of guilt, although the implications of this can vary significantly between jurisdictions and judges. The prosecution might argue that the refusal indicates the suspect's awareness of their likely intoxication."

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At one point, criminal defense lawyers would give blanket advice to refuse a breathalyzer, but many are now split.

"The wisdom of refusing a breathalyzer test depends on several factors, including the specific circumstances of the arrest and the legal strategy. Legally, it might benefit the suspect by not providing concrete evidence of intoxication, i.e. a BAC level," Gober said. "However, it also carries significant risks such as statutory penalties and the potential for negative inferences by a jury or judge."

"Traditionally, most criminal defense lawyers would give the blanket advice of refusing to take a breathalyzer test, but now the advice from criminal defense lawyers seems to be split on whether it is better to voluntarily submit or not," he added.

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Another legal expert called Timberlake's decision to refuse the test a "smart choice" made to "safeguard" his constitutional rights.

"Justin did the right thing in order to preserve his legal defense," celebrity criminal defense lawyer Michael Huff told Fox News Digital. "When detained for suspicion of DUI, you should not submit to the breathalyzer nor the field sobriety standardized tests (FSTs). Doing so provides the investigator with evidence that s/he may not have otherwise. Thereafter, the investigator may seek a warrant to extract blood for examination of your blood alcohol content (BAC)."

"Notwithstanding, Justin’s defense counsel will have room to argue and present a full legal defense strategy based on other possible factors that may have caused his appearance of impairment," the managing attorney of Huff Legal explained. "It is not certain he was driving while intoxicated just because he was pulled over."

"His license may be temporarily suspended, however, but would be reinstated if the charges are dropped or reduced. Justin Timberlake made a smart choice to safeguard his constitutional rights to Due Process under the law."

Timberlake was arraigned Tuesday morning in Sag Harbor, on the eastern end of Long Island, the Suffolk County district attorney’s office told Fox News Digital.

"At this time, we have no further comment," a spokesperson for the DA's office told Fox News Digital.

Timberlake was charged with one count of driving while intoxicated along with citations for failure to keep right and failure to stop at a stop sign, the district attorney's office confirmed to Fox News Digital. He is expected to appear virtually for his first court hearing in the matter on July 26.

Sag Harbor is a coastal village in the Hamptons, around 100 miles from New York City.

A spokesperson for Timberlake's lawyer, Ed Burke, told Fox News Digital: "No comment from Mr. Burke at this time."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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