WNBA teams are adjusting to Caitlin Clark’s popularity by moving their games to larger venues when the Indiana Fever, Clark’s team, visits.
The Las Vegas Aces and Washington Mystics have already shifted their matches against the Fever to bigger arenas. Clark’s impressive track record in college suggests this is a wise decision.
During her time at Iowa, when Clark and the Hawkeyes played away games, they often performed in front of sold-out crowds or set attendance records.
“She’s a big draw for ticket sales, so it’s a smart move to attract more attention. She’s bound to become an elite player,” remarked Aces coach Becky Hammon. “Her achievements in college are unparalleled, and she’s expected to shine in the WNBA. Having more fans in the arena, even if they’re rooting against her, will only add to the excitement.”
The two-time reigning WNBA champions, the Aces, recently relocated their May 25 game from the 12,000-seat Michelob Ultra Arena to the larger 18,000-seat T-Mobile Arena.
Players on the Aces acknowledge Caitlin Clark’s impact, but they also highlight their own team’s efforts in boosting game attendance, especially since they’ve clinched the last two WNBA championships.
“We’re focused on our business and drawing big crowds. Props to Clark, but we’ve been doing this for years, especially during important games,” remarked Las Vegas guard Kelsey Plum.
She added, “Many players draw fans, like A’ja Wilson and Chelsea Gray. It’s not just about one player. Last year in Chicago, we sold out the game.”
Clark is set to make her preseason debut in a sold-out game against Dallas on Friday night.
On June 7, the Mystics will face Indiana at the Capital One Arena, their former home. Their regular arena, the Entertainment and Sports Arena, seats up to 4,200 fans, while the Capital One Arena can accommodate over 20,000 for basketball games.
Since almost half of WNBA teams play in NBA arenas, there’s no need to relocate those games.
However, some teams that don’t usually face this issue are feeling pressure to relocate their games to larger venues. Take the Chicago Sky, for example. They and Angel Reese play their home games at the Wintrust Arena, which holds 10,000 people.
Fans have started a petition to move the Sky’s first home game against Indiana to the bigger United Center. However, that’s not possible because there’s a concert scheduled there on June 23 when the Fever are in town.
The Los Angeles Sparks are also considering moving their game against Indiana. They’re playing their first five home games in Long Beach due to conflicts with arena construction and the NBA and NHL playoffs. These games are in a smaller 4,000-seat arena.
While the Sparks have played at USC in the past, there’s no official word on moving the Indiana game there yet.
The Atlanta Dream, who play in a smaller venue with only 3,500 seats, will host Clark and the Fever on June 21. They haven’t announced if they’re considering moving to a larger arena.
