Caitlin Clark is one of the biggest draws on the planet right now. Her Fever debut tickets are more than double NBA playoff courtside seats.
If you build it, they will come. Or, in this case, if you draft her, they will buy tickets to every game. The Indiana Fever took Caitlin Clark at No. 1 in the WNBA draft and are already seeing her transcendent ability across all things.
At Iowa, Caitlin Clark took ticket prices to new heights. Every road game was a sellout, secondary markets saw tickets constantly over $400, and fans couldn’t get enough of her. The same thing is happening in the WNBA.
The Indiana Fever are seeing courtside seats for her debut going for nearly $2,500. In and of itself, that is an astronomical number. To put it into perspective, the Indiana Pacers are firmly in the NBA playoffs at this moment as a projected No. 6 seed with a 47-35 record. Those are selling at $1,220.
Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever debut is selling for more than double that of an NBA courtside seat at a playoff game. That is transcendent.
The Caitlin Clark effect in Indianapolis:
Courtside tickets to her Fever debut cost double compared to Pacers playoff tickets, per @gametime.
It doesn’t stop there, either. Clark is part of a surge in ticket prices across the WNBA and is leading the way paving this new path. Per Forbes, the Fever’s matchup with the Minnesota Lynx is seeing tickets go for $615.
Forbes has also discovered that the Indiana Fever are a player in each of the ten most expensive games this season. So, if you draft her, the fans are certain to come.
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Caitlin Clark is reportedly joining forces with Nike for a major deal and new shoe.
If you’re a fan of new Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, you’re about to be able to wear her signature shoe when you play basketball.
The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Mike Vorkunov and Ben Pickman reported on Wednesday night that Clark is nearing an eight-figure endorsement deal with Nike that will include the sportswear giant making a Clark-inspired Nike shoe.
The trio reported that Under Armour and Adidas also offered Clark deals before she chose to sign with Nike and that Golden State Warriors superstar Steph Curry was part of Under Armour’s pitch to Clark.
However, Clark had an NIL deal with Nike in college and will now transition to a more formal arrangement with the company.
Clark was picked first overall on Monday night by the Fever in the 2024 WNBA Draft after her stellar career at Iowa. She’ll begin her WNBA career against the Connecticut Sun on May 14 on the road.
Just another TV viewership record for Caitlin Clark.
The Caitlin Clark effect was alive and well on draft night.
With Clark’s No. 1 overall selection to the Indiana Fever as the main draw, ESPN enjoyed record TV viewership numbers. Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports reports that the 2024 WNBA draft reeled in 2.45 million viewers on Monday night.
Per Jon Lewis of Sports Media Watch, it also represented the largest TV audience for a WNBA telecast of any kind dating back to the year 2000. The Memorial Day game between the New York Liberty and Houston Comets in 2000 on NBC drew 2.74 million viewers.
The 2024 WNBA Draft audience was the largest the league has seen for a broadcast of any kind in more than two decades.@MMcCarthyREV's story ⬇️https://t.co/u30M63qYFB
Over the following quarter century since that Liberty vs. Comets contest on Memorial Day in 2000, no other no WNBA telecasts, including playoff and Finals games, has cracked the one million viewer mark, according to SMW.
Those TV ratings indicate that the Clark craze is likely to continue. All of this bodes well for the WNBA’s broadcast partners such as ESPN, Amazon, Ion and NBA TV. It looks like they are about to cash in on spiked viewership once more with Clark.
For the WNBA, Clark’s arrival into the league comes at a critical and picture-perfect time, too.
The league’s current broadcasting rights expire after the 2025 season. Currently, the WNBA pulls in $60 million a year for its rights fees vs. $2.7 billion annually for the NBA.
Early on, Clark’s ability to move the needle for the WNBA is obvious and apparent.
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Yet those who want to support the superstar by buying a jersey of her new team may have to wait a bit longer. While it is for sale via Fanatics, this is listed only as a pre-order.
In fairness, per Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin, Clark that fastest-selling jersey on draft night of any athlete in company history.
Caitlin Clark jerseys for sale at @Fanatics say they'll ship in August "due to @Nike's manufacturing times".
Reminds me of the Messi/@InterMiamiCF jerseys, which took months after his MLS signing because of @Adidas production.
“This is a special event item. Orders containing this product will be shipped separately. This item will be shipped no later than Wednesday, August 14, 2024.”
For what it is worth, the Fever will have played at least 26 of their 40 games by the date of that shipping estimate.
Of course, while there is a ton of excitement about Clark, it is disappointing for fans who want a jersey sooner rather than later.
It is also frustrating that folks who want to support other players on the Fever, like WNBA Rookie of the Year Aliyah Boston, do not even have an opportunity to buy her jersey on Fanatics.
“I’m not going to come out here and score 40 points a game. That’s not what I’m going to do.”
As the No. 1 pick in one of the most anticipated classes in WNBA history, Caitlin Clark has a lot riding on her shoulders. But, she says she will give herself grace and time to adjust her expectations for herself going into the league. Everyone else should remember that, too.
It feels like the entire country is talking about Caitlin Clark and the 2024 class after Monday’s historic draft. What kind of impact will they have? Will they face reality when they meet the league’s veterans? Will Caitlin Clark meet the moment as she’s expected to do?
If you ask Caitlin what’s been on her mind after being drafted, she might say giving herself grace in this new chapter of her life. Per James Boyd of The Athletic, Caitlin expressed to him that it’s a concept she learned to navigate in college and will take with her to the pros.
Here’s what she told Boyd and the media on Wednesday:
“Grace is a thing for everybody — that everybody could use in their life. Not everybody is perfect. People make mistakes…there’s going to be learning curves for me. I’m not going to come out here and score 40 points a game. That’s not what I’m going to do.
It’s learning from the amazing people I have around me and heaving a lot of fun, but also don’t lose who I am. That’s what’s gotten me to this point. [I will] continue to be myself, and I think a lot of good will come from that.”
I asked Caitlin Clark about chasing greatness while giving herself grace:
“ … I think it’s just learning from the amazing people that I have around me and having a lot of fun — but also like, ‘Don’t lose who I am.’ That’s what’s gotten me to this point.”
I loved the scope of Caitlin’s answer here, acknowledging how she had to mature in a way that let her be freed of her own internal expectations, and knowing that the adjustment at the next level will be a new—but exciting—challenge. A really terrific question from @RomeovilleKid. pic.twitter.com/mtsnOUfKKh
Good morning, Winners! My name is Meghan L. Hall, your resident WNBA and women’s college basketball savant, and I want to discuss something that so many people are talking about right now — WNBA salary.
Let’s talk about how we got here.
The 2024 WNBA Draft was one of the most anticipated draft classes ever because it was loaded with talent and spearheaded by college basketball greats like Cameron Brink, Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso and Caitlin Clark. The collision of the WNBA’s growth and the rise of women’s college basketball is spectacularly happening in real time.
Naturally, that puts the WNBA under a microscope. Issues that have plagued the league for many seasons, like salaries, are bubbling up to the surface again. People are learning the league’s inner workings and calling out the elephant in the room: Why aren’t WNBA players making more money?
For example, according to salary data from Sportrac, Caitlin Clark’s WNBA rookie scale deal will have her make just $338,056 over the next four years. The Aces’ Jackie Young makes a bit more than $250,000 annually in base salary, reportedly the highest annual value on a contract in the league. Some players have earned up to $600,000 through a base salary and other league earnings, according to the WNBA.
Still, other leagues dwarf those raw salary numbers, and folks new to the league are curious about why. Particularly when it comes to the NBA comparison.
To understand that, one must know the league is only 28 years old — well below the 75-plus years its NBA counterpart has been around. It’s been around longer, so it’s seen more investment from outside resources. The NBA has $2.5 billion in media rights deals. The WNBA, comparatively, only has $60 million.
The WNBA’s talent, which so many people have recently discovered, is certainly worth more investment. The league and its owners know things like expansion teams, state-of-the-art practice facilities, and more charted flights are how you sow into the long-term success of its athletes.
But investment can’t just come from the league itself. It comes from TV and media rights deals, partnerships, better negotiations in the next collective bargaining agreement, and detailed storytelling about players. And, just as crucially, it comes from you. Fans consistently watching and showing up to games matters. It shows big-money investors how much people care about this league.
WNBA Chief Growth Officer Colie Edison told For The Win in 2023 that the WNBA is “the best-kept secret that is not so secret.” She’s right.
The secret has been out. It’s time for everyone else to join the women’s sports movement.
The Warriors’ Big 3 might be finished
Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
The Golden State Warriors’ season is over after a loss in the 9-10 Play-In Tournament game to the Kings, Mike Sykes writes.
This certainly isn’t how the team envisioned itself finishing, but that happens when you’re not constantly on your A-game in an all-time competitive Western Conference.
This may have been the last hurrah for this Golden State team — particularly with the trio of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. Thompson in particular, who shot a putrid 0-10 from the field against Sacramento, is up for a new contract. It’s not a guarantee he’ll be back.
Curry was asked about the possibility of the Big 3 returning. On one hand, he said, “I can never see myself not playing with those two,” about Green and Thompson. On the other hand, though, he also said, “I just want to win.”
Steph Curry on Draymond/Klay: “I can never see myself not with those two guys.”
Otherwise, Philly was out, and some of that might open the door for the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins to grab the second Wild Card spot in the East.
Here’s the thing: the Red Wings went to overtime against the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday BEFORE the end of the Flyers game, which eliminated Philly on the spot. But John Tortorella and the Flyers didn’t know that. So in a tie game, the scenario we wanted happened — in a tie game, Philly pulled its goalie, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS UNNECESSARY! — and the Capitals scored to win the contest.”
That’s a tough way to go out, man. I offer condolences to Red Wings, Pens, and Flyers fans.
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Good morning, Winners! Welcome back to the Morning Win. Thanks so much for rocking with us today. We appreciate you taking the time.
Hopefully, you watched the WNBA draft last night! That felt like a real watershed moment for the league. I don’t know how the ratings will turn out, but everyone on my social feeds was tapped into it.
Caitlin Clark was the night’s big draw, but folks were also there to see where Kamilla Cardoso, Angel Reese, Rickea Jackson and more would go. The names we know all now have homes in the WNBA.
But I’ve got to be honest, folks. I know some of us are new to the league. And I’m so glad you’re still watching. But for some of those names? I wouldn’t get too attached.
There’s a solid chance some players you heard getting their names called on Monday night might not be on those same teams by the end of the season.
Making it in the WNBA is hard. Just look at the 2021 draft class — four of the top five picks from that class were cut by the teams that drafted them within two seasons. That’s how it goes.
It’s a numbers game. There are only 12 teams in the league and 12 available roster spots per team. That’s 144 players without a ton of churn. Making room for 36 more players yearly is a tough proposition — especially when there’s no developmental space like the G League to place them.
This is why expansion matters so much for this league. More teams mean more roster spots. More roster spots mean more space for talent. The W is working on it — Cathy Engelbert said she expects the league to have 16 teams by 2028.
In the meantime, though, rookies remain at a disadvantage. It’s not that they’re not good — they just don’t know the tricks of the trade like the W’s vets do. They’ve been there already. They’ve done the work. The rookies still have a lot of heavy lifting to do.
Best of luck to every single one of those ladies who heard their names called last night. They’ll need every bit of it over these next few years.
A wild finish on the ice
Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports
We’re just a few days away from the start of the NHL playoffs and almost everything is settled…except the Eastern Conference race for the wild card. The landscape has changed a bit from a week ago.
You’ve got two spots available for four teams: The Washington Capitals (89 points), Detroit Red Wings (89 points), Pittsburgh Penguins (88 points) and Philadelphia Flyers (87 points).
The Capitals are in a “win and you’re in” situation on Tuesday night with the Flyers on schedule for their season’s final game.
A Washington win would give the Caps 91 points on the year and the top wild-card spot in the East since the team owns the tiebreaker over the Red Wings.
A Flyers win would give the Flyers, Caps and Red Wings 89 points on the year with the Flyers in pole position through tiebreakers.
Pittsburgh would have to beat the Islanders on Wednesday to get 90 points and become the conference’s top wild-card team.
It’s chaotic. It’s a mess. It’s playoff hockey. You love to see it.
One way the NBA In-Season tournament worked
Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports
Debates on whether the NBA should’ve considered the NBA In-Season Tournament a success or failure raged on in the middle of December when we had nothing else to talk about.
It was the classic NBA ratings talk. Were people watching the games more because of the tournament? Sure. But was the impact large enough for the NBA to tout it as a huge win? Probably not.
However, the league did make some gains in another area because of the tournament: in-person attendance. The NBA released numbers on game attendance this year and set sellout records for the second consecutive year.
“The total attendance of 22,538,518 in the 2023-24 regular season surpasses the previous record of 22,234,502 set last season. The other records include 873 sellouts (up from the previous record 791 in 2022-23), 71% of games sold out (up from 63% in 2022-23) and an average attendance of 18,324 (up from 18,077 in 2022-23). Additionally, NBA arenas were filled to an all-time-high 98% capacity.”
It’s hard to get people to come to games between the improving at-home experience and expensive ticket prices. The NBA getting these numbers is impressive.
Does it mean the In-Season Tournament is a no-brainer win? No. But it is a good sign that shows people are still interested in NBA basketball.
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Drafting Caitlin Clark was a no-brainer. Not only was it an easy choice for what she can do on the court but for the eyes and the fandom she will have following her. All of these reasons are why ESPN and CBS Sports have both graded this pick and Fever draft as an A+.
Indiana Fever: A-plus
No franchise needed the excitement Clark brings more than Indiana, which hasn’t made the WNBA playoffs since 2016. Both Sides and general manager Lin Dunn said they are eager for Clark to meet all her teammates and have her personality impact the team and the community. They also said she is more than ready for what’s ahead of her on the court.
“I hoping she’s going to go home and get some rest for a little while. She’s just been on the go,” Sides said. “But I can’t wait to get her in the locker room with our players. They can get to know her, know she’s a fierce competitor. These guys see all the articles written and things on social media. They don’t know her yet. I’m ready for that day.” – Michael Voepel, ESPN
Caitlin Clark is going to instantly lift the Fever into a new stratosphere as a franchise. Their fanbase has grown exponentially, ticket sales are up, and that all leads to one less discussed item. That turns the Fever into a desirable place for free agents to play as well. Indiana will open Caitlin Clark with open arms and she will change this franchise.
No surprise here. Clark has been projected as the No. 1 pick for months, and the Fever made it official on Monday night. The two-time Naismith Player of the Year and all-time leading scorer in Division I history, men or women, Clark is one of the best offensive prospects to ever enter the league. Her 3-point range and off-the-dribble shooting are unlike anything the WNBA has seen, and she’s a dynamite playmaker. Off the court, she is a marketing dream and will raise the profile of the Fever and the league as a whole.
Grade: A+ – Jack Maloney, CBS Sports
Caitlin Clark has been the main event in every arena that she has stepped in over the last few years. That won’t change in Indiana or road games in the WNBA. She is going to be the main draw.
She has the talent to make an instant impact with her shooting ability and her court vision to make high-level passes to teammates for easy buckets. It is now just a matter of time until she takes the court, but there is no debate that the Fever’s pick is a clear A+.
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Sometimes, Caitlin Clark doesn’t have to do anything to get a reaction.
That was the case on Monday, as Angel Reese put together a TikTok video with fellow WNBA Draft pick Cameron Brink in which they went from their orange hoodies during the day of the draft to their beautiful fits for the night, all to the tune of a sped-up Barbie Girl by Aqua.
So what did Clark have to do with it? She’s just chilling in the background on her phone. It’s a photobomb without being a photobomb, but fans had a laugh over it either way on social media:
What’s more is that he looked like he had a fun night with her afterwards, according to her Instagram.
McCaffery — who works for the Indiana Pacers, which is convenient for him and Clark! — was tagged on X (formerly Twitter) with a fan saying they wanted to see his reaction to what the guard wore.
His response? Three emojis implying that he was wowed by it. Check out his post and Clark’s Instagram Story with the two of them:
