Caitlin Clark's Fever game sets record ticket prices

In Iowa City, Iowa, Caitlin Clark fans are facing record-high ticket prices for her preseason matchup against the Brazilian national team. The average price of $440 as of last Wednesday marks the most in-demand event involving Clark, who previously achieved a paid price record of $411. This game will take place at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, where she became a basketball star while playing for the Iowa Hawkeyes from 2020-2024. Clark was a standout athlete, becoming the all-time leading scorer in Division I history and earning the title of WNBA rookie of the year after being the first overall pick in the 2024 draft. The unprecedented demand for tickets reflects the immense popularity that Clark has brought to the WNBA team, the Indiana Fever. In 2024, sales for Fever games skyrocketed, with a reported 90 times more tickets sold on StubHub compared to the previous year. This season appears to maintain that trend, with the Fever holding the top ten most sought-after games on the ticket market, highlighting Clark's impact on the sport. Notably, the Fever’s matchup against the Connecticut Sun on July 15 is predicted to attract even more fans due to the game being relocated to Boston's TD Garden, which has a larger capacity than the usual Mohegan Sun Arena. The Fever's ticket demand has also influenced other teams in the league. Games featuring new WNBA stars, including Paige Bueckers, have contributed to increased ticket sales across the league. Bueckers’ success with the Dallas Wings has seen her team's sales quadruple in contrast to the previous season. After her selection as the first overall pick this year, searches for the Wings on StubHub surged significantly. Overall, Caitlin Clark's presence and performance have not only elevated her team’s ticket sales but also raised the profile of women's basketball as a whole, evident from the historic viewership numbers achieved during her college career. In particular, the final three games of her collegiate tenure were the most viewed in women's college basketball history. Clark's appearances thus serve as a significant boost for the WNBA, underscoring the growing interest and investment in women’s sports.