The transformative impact of Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark on the WNBA during her rookie season is undeniable. Clark and the Fever have shattered numerous records, including average attendance (17,036) and total attendance (340,715), alongside breaking television ratings and merchandise sales records. Teams across the league saw dramatic increases in viewership for games featuring the Fever. The Atlanta Dream (431%), Washington Mystics (311%), and Minnesota Lynx (131%) saw game attendance more than double when facing Clark, according to Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press. Additionally, five other teams, including the Los Angeles Sparks (80%), Seattle Storm (77%), Phoenix Mercury (64%), New York Liberty (44%), and Las Vegas Aces (42%), experienced significant spikes.
Clark’s influence drew a bold comparison from former NBA Coach of the Year George Karl, who likened her to Julius Erving, stating, “Caitlin Clark may be the Julius Erving of the WNBA. He had that impact on the ABA and NBA!”
Clark’s Fever outdrew several NBA teams in average home game attendance, surpassing the Charlotte Hornets, Memphis Grizzlies, and Washington Wizards, as well as MLB teams like the Oakland A’s and Miami Marlins. Much like Erving, who was a perennial All-Star and MVP in both the ABA and NBA, Clark has rapidly become a must-watch player, elevating the profile of the WNBA to new heights.
