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Caitlin Clark, Fever set WNBA single-game ticket revenue record in road loss to Liberty
The Indiana Fever star had the best game of her young pro career on Saturday, but the Fever lost 91-80 to the Liberty in New York City.
The Indiana Fever star had the best game of her young pro career on Saturday, but the Fever lost 91-80 to the Liberty in New York City.
Amid high expectations, rookie Caitlin Clark struggled to find open shots and was hampered with foul trouble in her first home game for the Fever.
The Indiana Fever’s season-opening road game Tuesday night against the Connecticut Sun—featuring the debut of Caitlin Clark—was the most-watched WNBA game since 2001.
Sportsbooks say they expect increased betting on women’s sports overall this year because of Clark, the Olympics and increased media attention.
Clark struggled early in her WNBA debut Tuesday night as the visiting Indiana Fever fell to the Connecticut Sun 92-71 before a sellout crowd.
This Indiana Fever’s game in Connecticut will feature the second sold-out crowd Clark will play in front of in her extremely young WNBA career.
A Fever championship would have bookmakers sweating. They are the biggest liability at BetMGM Sportsbook, with nearly half the betting tickets on the Fever, who open the season Tuesday at the Connecticut Sun.
Clark struggled with her shooting, but the Fever managed a preseason victory over the Atlanta Dream on Thursday night before a large, raucous crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The Fever will open up the third deck of Gainbridge Fieldhouse rather than having seating in only the two lower decks. The change means Indiana could draw more than 17,000 fans to a preseason game.
The league plans to commit $50 million over the next two years to provide full-time charter flight service for its teams during the season in a move that addresses years of player safety concerns.
Sports columnist Doyel is serving a suspension following his widely criticized behavior toward Indiana Fever rookie Clark.
Clark will make her preseason debut on Friday night at Dallas—a game that is already sold out. On Stubhub, a floor-level seat for the game was listed at $791.
Clark is featured in the ESPN+ series focused on women’s college basketball stars, co-produced by Manning’s Omaha Productions.
As the newest member of the Indiana Fever, Clark is learning how she’ll fit into a new offensive system, building chemistry with her new teammates and learning the nuances of what it means to be the WNBA’s highest-profile rookie.
Sources say the contract spans eight years and includes a signature shoe.
Unable to attend the U.S. training camp earlier this month, Clark will have the start of her WNBA career to show the U.S. women’s basketball selection committee whether she deserves a spot on the team.
With rookie sensation Caitlin Clark set to make her professional debut in May, the Fever has reached a deal with the owner of two Indianapolis TV stations to air nearly half of the team’s regular-season schedule.
Clark addressed numerous topics, ranging from the bustling draft party held at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, to the future of the league, to how she feels about the prospect of living in Indianapolis.
The team’s draft-watch party at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Monday drew an estimated 6,000 fans, including many who stood in long lines to buy from the first stock of Clark-related Indiana Fever memorabilia.
Clark is expected to have a major impact on the Fever, not only on the court, but in the stands, where the team ranked next to last in attendance in 2023. Her appeal was apparent Monday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where thousands of fans gathered to watch the draft on the arena’s video scoreboard.