Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
WNBA Teams Look for Bigger Arenas When Caitlin Clark Comes to Town
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 1 year ago on
May 2, 2024

WNBA teams have started making moves to capitalize on the popularity of Caitlin Clark. Some are booking bigger venues for when Clark and the Indiana Fever come to town. (AP/Darron Cummings)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

WNBA teams have started making moves to capitalize on the popularity of Caitlin Clark. Some are booking bigger venues for when Clark and the Indiana Fever come to town.

The Las Vegas Aces and Washington Mystics have moved their games against the Fever to bigger arenas. The numbers Clark generated in college indicates it’s a smart move.

While at Iowa, when the No. 1 pick in the draft and the Hawkeyes went on the road this past season, they played in front of sellout crowds or set attendance records.

Clark’s Impact on Ticket Sales

“She helps ticket sales, so I think it’s a really great time to have eyes. She’s going to be an elite player,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said. “She has been in college. She’s done stuff in college that nobody else has. She’s going to be a great player in the W. There’s no doubt about it.

“So the more people we can pack into the building to cheer against her, we’ll take it, although I don’t know if they’ll be cheering against her,” Hammon quipped. “I guess they might be cheering for her.”

The two-time reigning WNBA champion Aces relocated their game on May 25 from the 12,000-seat Michelob Ultra Arena to the 18,000-seat T-Mobile Arena.

Aces players credit Clark, but also know that their own team, which has won the past two WNBA championships, has done a great job increasing attendance at games over the past few seasons.

Other Teams’ Reactions

“We’re not rolling out any red carpet. We’re here to be a business and sell a lot of tickets. Kudos to her (Clark), but we also have done that in previous years in big games as well,” Las Vegas guard Kelsey Plum said. “There are a lot of people that play basketball. People are coming to watch A’ja Wilson. People are going to watch Chelsea Gray.

“That’s not a slight on anyone, but I’m saying that’s not for her. We played in Chicago last year. We sold it out last year.”

Clark will make her preseason debut on Friday night at Dallas — a game that is already sold out.

The Mystics game against Indiana on June 7 will be played at Capital One Arena — Washington’s old home. Their normal home, the Entertainment and Sports Arena, can seat up to 4,200 fans, but the Capital One Arena has a maximum basketball capacity of more than 20,000.

Nearly half of WNBA teams play in NBA arenas, so there’s no need to move those games.

Other Teams Considering Larger Arenas

Still, a few others that don’t are feeling a push to move games to larger arenas, including the Chicago Sky. The Sky and Angel Reese play their home games in the 10,000-seat Wintrust Arena. Fans started a petition to move their first home game against Indiana to the bigger United Center. There’s a concert scheduled at that arena on June 23 when the Fever come to town — so that’s not going to happen.

The Los Angeles Sparks are another team that could move their game against Indiana.

The Sparks are playing their first five home games at Long Beach because of arena conflicts from construction and the NBA and NHL playoffs. They are hosting the Fever on May 24, which is scheduled to be played at Long Beach. The team’s first five games will be played there in a 4,000-seat arena.

The Sparks have played games in the past at USC and there’s always a chance they could move the Indiana game there. The Sparks said they have nothing official to report when asked about moving the game.

The Atlanta Dream, who also play in a smaller venue that seats only 3,500, host Clark and the Fever on June 21. The team hasn’t said whether it’s exploring trying to move to a bigger arena yet.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Fresno DUI Pursuit Ends in 30-to-Life Sentence for Career Criminal

DON'T MISS

Caitlin Clark’s Return to Iowa for Preseason Game Draws Average ESPN Viewership of 1.3 Million

DON'T MISS

Did Fresno Unified Trustees Hand More Power to Superintendent?

DON'T MISS

Trump Says His Administration ‘Is Not Going to Pay’ for California High-Speed Rail

DON'T MISS

Trump Surprises Canada With a New Message: We Love You

DON'T MISS

Fresno Man Charged With Murder in DUI Crash That Killed Two Teens

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Authorities Seek Suspect in Woman’s Death

DON'T MISS

India Strikes Pakistan in Aftermath of Kashmir Tourist Killings

DON'T MISS

Clovis Police Confirm Seizure of Suspected Getaway Car in Caleb Quick Murder

DON'T MISS

Dyer Doesn’t Use Veto on Controversial Smoke Shop Ordinance

UP NEXT

Ravens Release Justin Tucker After Accusations by Massage Therapists of Inappropriate Behavior

UP NEXT

Draymond Green’s Vow to Keep His Cool Helps Warriors Advance to in West Semis

UP NEXT

Ian Happ Homers as the Cubs Beat the Sloppy Giants

UP NEXT

Ohtani and Freeman Homer off Alcántara as Dodgers Beat Marlins

UP NEXT

Willy Adames’ Bat Heats Up With Two HRs in Giants Win

UP NEXT

Austin Riley’s Home Runs Snap Dodgers’ Win Streak at 7 Games

UP NEXT

Breaking Down the Warriors-Timberwolves Playoff Series

UP NEXT

Can Aaron Judge Hit .400? Even Barry Bonds Couldn’t. That Shows How Daunting the Math Is

UP NEXT

Robbie Ray’s Gem Leads the Giants Over the Rockies

UP NEXT

Yamamoto Allows Only 1 Hit in 6 Scoreless Innings and Betts Homers as Dodgers Hold Off Braves 2-1

Trump Says His Administration ‘Is Not Going to Pay’ for California High-Speed Rail

6 hours ago

Trump Surprises Canada With a New Message: We Love You

6 hours ago

Fresno Man Charged With Murder in DUI Crash That Killed Two Teens

6 hours ago

Fresno County Authorities Seek Suspect in Woman’s Death

6 hours ago

India Strikes Pakistan in Aftermath of Kashmir Tourist Killings

6 hours ago

Clovis Police Confirm Seizure of Suspected Getaway Car in Caleb Quick Murder

7 hours ago

Dyer Doesn’t Use Veto on Controversial Smoke Shop Ordinance

8 hours ago

Fresno Fire Displaces Two After Faulty Appliance Sparks Blaze

8 hours ago

Real Estate Remains Top Investment Choice Amid Market Volatility

9 hours ago

Clash Over Teen Sex Solicitation Reveals the Rift Within CA Democratic Party

10 hours ago

Fresno DUI Pursuit Ends in 30-to-Life Sentence for Career Criminal

A Fresno man was sentenced Tuesday to 30 years to life in state prison for a deadly 2020 DUI pursuit that killed another driver, the Fresno ...

5 hours ago

Roger Lynn Harris, 38, of Fresno, was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, for a 2020 DUI pursuit that killed another driver. (Fresno County SO)
5 hours ago

Fresno DUI Pursuit Ends in 30-to-Life Sentence for Career Criminal

6 hours ago

Caitlin Clark’s Return to Iowa for Preseason Game Draws Average ESPN Viewership of 1.3 Million

6 hours ago

Did Fresno Unified Trustees Hand More Power to Superintendent?

6 hours ago

Trump Says His Administration ‘Is Not Going to Pay’ for California High-Speed Rail

6 hours ago

Trump Surprises Canada With a New Message: We Love You

6 hours ago

Fresno Man Charged With Murder in DUI Crash That Killed Two Teens

Homicide detectives are investigating the fatal shooting of Serenity Pasillas, 21, in Fresno, with a $2,000 reward offered for information leading to an arrest. (Fresno County SO)
6 hours ago

Fresno County Authorities Seek Suspect in Woman’s Death

City view during the blackout, after India's strikes in Muzaffarabad, in Pakistan-administrated Kashmir, May 7, 2025. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro
6 hours ago

India Strikes Pakistan in Aftermath of Kashmir Tourist Killings

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend