The WNBA has found its greatest asset in the figure of Caitlin Clark. There is no doubt that the Indiana Fever player is one of the most important faces of the competition and continues to be a phenomenon with an unprecedented economic impact.
The Caitlin Clark Effect in the WNBA
In fact, Clark has generated earnings of up to $36 million for the city of Indianapolis alone, and figures circulating in the media indicate that the player is responsible for 26.5% of the league’s economic spillover, including merchandising sales, television and attendance at properties.
Amazingly, they say that “one out of every six tickets sold in a WNBA arena can be attributed to Caitlin Clark,” according to Dr. Ryan Brewer who spoke about these figures for the Indy Star.
Popularity on the rise
Caitlin Clark’s popularity is on the rise and the league’s teams are also benefiting from it. All that remains to be seen is how the game between the Indiana Fever and the Dallas Wings was moved to the American Airlines Center to allow for a larger fan base. That game will be played on June 27.
“To have the best women’s basketball players on the planet playing at a world-class venue like the American Airlines Center is truly worthy. Hosting this game at the AAC provides our athletes the well-deserved opportunity to showcase themselves in front of a record home crowd,” said Greg Bibb, CEO of the Wings. “Playing our first game in Dallas, our future hometown, offers our fans not only a new and unique opportunity to experience the WNBA, but also to enjoy a preview of what is to come.”
The CAA has already been the scene of memorable moments in women’s basketball. During the 2023 Women’s Final Four, Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes stunned top-seeded South Carolina in the national semifinal before falling to LSU in the title game. Clark returned to the title game last season, where Iowa again faced South Carolina, this time in Cleveland, in what became her final collegiate appearance.
The Wings are promoting the June 27 game as “A Night in Dallas.” The highly anticipated game is expected to feature the final three No. 1 picks in the WNBA draft – Indiana teammates Fever Clark (2024) and Aliyah Boston (2023), both former WNBA Rookie of the Year, along with the Wings’ next selection on April 14.
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