As Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever return from the WNBA’s Olympic break this week, the franchise is eager to sustain the surge in momentum they achieved before the All-Star Game.
The Fever have seen a dramatic 265% increase in attendance from last year, with 186,000 fans attending home games this season. This surge in support has propelled the team to seventh place in the WNBA standings with an 11-15 record, bolstered by winning three of their last five games.
The impact of Caitlin Clark extends beyond the court. According to a recent report, the Fever led the league in social media engagement, video views, and follower growth. Between April 15 and July 19, they surpassed all teams across the NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLB in video consumption with 800 million views. Only MLS’ Inter Miami had a higher total among U.S. teams. Additionally, the Fever now have the most team sponsors in the league, with Eli Lilly joining as their jersey patch sponsor in May.
The Fever’s All-Star Game performance, featuring Clark alongside Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston, drew a record 3.44 million viewers. Although Clark wasn’t in Paris for the Olympics, she made headlines by attending a New York Yankees game in a custom jersey, attracting notable attention.
The remaining 14 games of Clark’s rookie season will be broadcast nationally, starting with a matchup against the Phoenix Mercury on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET on Ion, followed by a game against the Seattle Storm on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC. The Fever’s fan base is expected to turn out in force, with a 1,193% increase in jersey sales reflecting Clark’s influence.
However, despite the surge in merchandise sales, WNBA players generally do not receive compensation for jersey sales. Kelsey Plum of the Las Vegas Aces highlighted this issue in 2022, noting the disparity in revenue sharing compared to the NBA. Under the current collective bargaining agreement (CBA), player revenue sharing is activated when league revenue reaches certain thresholds, but many players are advocating for a more equitable system.
With the Fever’s popularity at an all-time high, they are well-positioned to build on their success and continue drawing national attention throughout the remainder of the season.
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