Following the draft of one of the biggest college sports superstars in recent history, the WNBA’s Indiana Fever have already surpassed the team’s total home attendance for all of 2023 — and they achieved this in just five games this season.
Last season, the Fever attracted slightly over 81,000 fans to Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis over 20 home games, as reported by Across the Timeline’s data. This marked one of the lowest attendance figures in the WNBA and a poor season for ticket sales in the franchise’s history.
This season, the Fever has already exceeded 82,000 in attendance in just five home games, all due to the impact of one person: Caitlin Clark.
From setting the all-time college basketball scoring record to drawing record ratings for a WNBA game on ESPN, Caitlin Clark has undeniably left a lasting mark on women’s sports, with visible momentum.
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As a two-time national college player of the year, selling out arenas was familiar to Clark even before joining the WNBA. With her first overall draft to Indiana this year, the excitement around women’s basketball has surged.
“I’m just grateful for the support and excitement,” Clark expressed about the increased popularity of the WNBA. “This is what the league and its players have deserved for a long time.”
She belongs to a standout rookie class alongside names like Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso, and Cameron Brink, all contributing to the unprecedented support for women’s basketball in general.
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WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert sees this meteoric rise not only as an increase in interest but also in financial terms.
In an interview with ESPN, Engelbert mentioned the league’s survival and plans to expand its reach following increased investment, including a commitment of $50 million for full-time charter flights to all teams over the next two seasons.
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Scripps Sports will once again broadcast WNBA games every Friday night on ION for a second season. Tune in to watch the Indiana Fever face the Washington Mystics or the Seattle Storm against the Las Vegas Aces this Friday, June 7.
ION’s 14-week WNBA schedule covers over 40 national, regional, or local games accessible to TV and streaming viewers across the country until September 13.
Click here to check out the full upcoming WNBA on ION schedule.