On Thursday, when Caitlin Clark enters Gainbridge Fieldhouse for the first time, it will be the most anticipated home opener in history. Indianapolis has been a wild house ever since they chose the former Iowa standout with the first overall pick.
On Thursday, when Caitlin Clark enters Gainbridge Fieldhouse for the first time, it will be the most anticipated home opener in history. Indianapolis has been a wild house ever since they chose the former Iowa standout with the first overall pick. As reported by the Indiana Business Journal, the Fever averaged 4,067 attendance at home during the regular season the previous year. Sales of games are anticipated to reach a record level this year. Very few competitors in any sport have ever had as much star power as Clark does.
Additionally, it will increase awareness of the sport in general, including games that Clark does not participate in. For the first time in league history, the WNBA announced on Wednesday that they would be providing charter aircraft for the WNBA during the season.
At 6 p.m. CT, Clark and the Fever will square off against the Atlanta Dream. Viewers can access it for free via the WNBA League Pass or the WNBA app. Clark remarked of the supporters, “They are what makes women’s basketball so fun.” “It seems like it has been developing steadily over the past few years. And it means a lot to me and the other teams on the court that they showed up to cheer for me during my first WNBA game. They witness the quality of this product.”
In her first WNBA preseason game, Clark finished with 21 points, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Although Clark will need to get used to the toughness of the NBA, her three-point range helped defenses to stretch out. She requested a replacement from coach Christie Sides around the end of the first quarter in order to collect her breath.
A few WNBA players have expressed that Clark will need to adjust, the most recent being Brittany Griner. Coming from college to the pros is different,” Griner remarked prior to Clark’s debut in the regular season. “I dropped a little bit in my numbers after being the top dog. You will be facing adult women. They provide for their family in this way. This goes beyond a simple passion for the [game]. They make their living from this. I needed to strengthen and tighten my grip a bit more. She will experience some growing pains, but she will recover.”
