The Indiana Fever concluded their regular season in the same historic fashion they began. Meanwhile, Caitlin Clark, despite facing constant hatred and anti-white racist attacks, captured massive attention on the court.
When Clark debuted in the WNBA against the Connecticut Sun back in May, the game attracted 2.1 million viewers, becoming the most-watched WNBA game in over 20 years.
Fast forward to Thursday night, the Fever set yet another milestone, playing in front of a record-setting 20,711 fans, marking the largest in-person crowd in WNBA history. Clark’s presence continues to fuel the league’s rising popularity.
This year’s rookie class set a new benchmark for women’s basketball, but Caitlin led the way. Her teammates acknowledged the significant impact she has had on the game, recognizing her role in elevating the sport’s visibility and excitement.
“It’s huge,” NaLyssa Smith said of the crowd that attended Thursday’s loss to the Washington Mystics.
“This is what we’ve been hoping for forever. It’s fun to play in front of these [crowds]. You never get used to it. Just always showing up and playing in front of sold-out crowds, and I mean, shoutout Caitlin. Shoutout Caitlin, we appreciate her for this.”
Kelsey Mitchell reinforced that sentiment before the game, noting that Clark’s popularity has drawn “casual” fans to the sport, helping them recognize and appreciate the WNBA’s biggest stars.
“I think the reality of it is that I don’t think people would know without [Caitlin Clark]. So, shoutout to Caitlin. That’s just the reality. I think she’s done an unbelievable job of bringing obviously her own fans and the people that support her.”
Fever players credit Caitlin Clark with popularity surge after record WNBA crowd: ‘We appreciate her for this’ https://t.co/onXjBlXjHV
— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 20, 2024
