Caitlin Clark is headed back to Iowa this weekend, but it’s not just Hawkeyes fans who are feeling the heat.
Clark will step onto the court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, not in the familiar Iowa jersey, but representing the Indiana Fever in their final WNBA preseason game against the Brazilian national team.
This game marks Clark‘s first time playing in Iowa City since turning pro, and the demand to see her return has reached fever pitch. The numbers are staggering. Over 15,000 fans are expected to pack the arena, and resale ticket prices are averaging $440.
According to Victory Live, the event is set to generate $6.6 million in total value-a jaw-dropping figure for a WNBA preseason contest.
The game is also being nationally broadcast on ESPN, an unprecedented move for a preseason game, further emphasizing just how big Clark‘s presence is for the league.
But there’s one thing the arena can’t quite prepare for: the heat. Literally.
“I warned everybody, there’s not air conditioning in Carver-Hawkeye,” Clark told reporters earlier this week. “Hopefully, it stays a little cool in there. I don’t know what the humidity is looking like. We’ll see how it goes, might be a little toasty.”
A homecoming built on record-breaking momentum
Clark‘s transition to the WNBA has been among the most anticipated in league history.
After becoming the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer and guiding the Iowa Hawkeyes to back-to-back national championship appearances, she was selected No. 1 overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever. Her popularity has already reshaped the WNBA’s visibility, attendance, and even media strategy.
The Fever, who also boast stars like Kelsey Mitchell and NaLyssa Smith, have seen their ticket sales surge across the board. Clark’s addition alone has driven home ticket prices up 126% compared to last season, while away game prices have spiked by 91%, per data from ticketing platforms.
While the Fever‘s game against Brazil is technically an exhibition, the stakes feel much higher. Not only is it Clark’s first pro appearance in the state that made her a star, but it’s also a moment of celebration for the growing movement around women’s basketball.
Indiana Fever president Allison Barber summed it up best: “This is more than a game-it’s a celebration of where she came from and where she’s going.”
The Fever open their regular season on May 14 against the Connecticut Sun, but Sunday’s Iowa showdown will be the unofficial start of what many expect to be a transformative rookie season for Clark.
Read the full article here
