Caitlin Clark effect? Despite losses, Indiana Fever’s clash with New York Liberty at Barclays Center sets single-game WNBA ticket revenue record

 

 

She may still be seeking her first win as an Indiana Fever player, but the arrival of Caitlin Clark in the WNBA is already putting more bums on seats than ever before.

Clark, who was selected by the Fever with the first overall pick at this year’s WNBA Draft, is 0-4 with Indiana following defeats against the Connecticut Sun and the New York Liberty, marking a frustrating start to her career in the big leagues.

Though while it’s far from the introduction she would have been dreaming of, the former Iowa sensation’s superstar appeal is showing no sign of slowing down.

In Saturday’s loss to the Liberty in Brooklyn, the Clark effect helped the WNBA smash its single-game ticket revenue record at over $2million, with the largest regular-season attendance in Liberty history (17,735) flocking to see her in action.

Caitlin Clark's arrival in the WNBA is already putting more bums on seats than ever before

 

Caitlin Clark’s arrival in the WNBA is already putting more bums on seats than ever before

The Fever's defeat to the Liberty in Brooklyn on Saturday set a single-game ticket revenue record in the WNBA, with the game generating over $2million

 

The Fever’s defeat to the Liberty in Brooklyn on Saturday set a single-game ticket revenue record in the WNBA, with the game generating over $2million

Jason Sudeikis

 

Billie Jean King

 

A number of celebrities were in town, including Jason Sudeikis (left) and Billie Jean King (right)

 

 

A number of celebrities were also in town for the game; including tennis legend Billie Jean King, South Carolina’s championship-winning coach Dawn Staley and acting superstar Jason Sudeikis.

‘I thought the atmosphere was incredible,’ Clark said. ‘Definitely a lot of young girls here today. That was a lot of fun to see.

‘It’s fun to play in New York for the first time and play in front of this environment.’

Clark’s historic success for Iowa, which saw her become the all-time leading NCAA points scorer, brought record audiences to college basketball, along with record ticket prices.

Despite the success of the event at Barclays Center, nevertheless, she tasted another defeat at Barclays Center on Saturday night.

 

The 22-year-old then slumped to her fourth straight loss with Indiana on Monday night, with Connecticut compiling her misery at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Clark’s frustration clearly got the better of her, too. She was caught on camera screaming ‘it’s a f***ing foul’ at the referee and got a technical as a result.

Clark has lost her first four games with Indiana since being drafted with the first overall pick

 

Clark has lost her first four games with Indiana since being drafted with the first overall pick

‘Just the technical foul, can’t get that,’ Clark told reporters after the game.

‘A little frustration of how the game was reffed. But it is what it is. That’s out of your control.

‘I thought our team put ourselves in position to make some plays to try and win down the stretch and the Sun always came up with big plays.’