Caitlin Clark is receiving the superstar treatment in Indianapolis.
Caitlin Clark, the No. 1 WNBA Draft pick for the Indiana Fever, has revitalised the city’s basketball culture. Clark’s inclusion, along with last year’s No. 1 pick Erica Wheeler and local sports stars such as Indiana Pacers All-Star Tyrese Haliburton, has sparked renewed interest in the city’s sports scene.
Erica Wheeler, a seasoned guard for the Fever and Rutgers alum, expressed enthusiasm about the rising attention and expected rise in attendance at their games.
“I’m excited, I haven’t played in front of a crowd like this since I was in college,” said Wheeler, a Rutgers alum, according to Chloe Peterson of the Indianapolis Star. “When we played against UConn, that was when Maya Moore was playing … that was probably the biggest game, as far as the crowd, for me, so to be able to go out here every night in the summer to have a sold out crowd is gonna be super special.”
In 2023, the Fever had an average attendance of 4,067 supporters per game, ranking near the bottom of the league. However, they have made a tremendous recovery. With Clark as the No. 1 pick in the draft, the team has gained new fans from diverse backgrounds, including Iowa fans and women’s basketball lovers. This spike in interest has resulted in the introduction of new areas in Gainbridge Fieldhouse, which were previously cordoned off for Fever games this season.
“Yesterday, I was on Twitter, and someone said that Indiana is the new Hollywood,” Wheeler said at the time. “I thought it was fairly great that people felt that way about Indiana, since when you think of Indiana, you assume it’s boring, with nothing to do. “But now everyone wants to be in Indiana.”
Caitlin Clark’s star power
Clark’s star power was evident during the Pacers’ playoff game against the Milwaukee Bucks on April 26. She got standing ovations during the pregame and mid-game segments. Aliyah Boston, the Fever’s centre, saw a tangible energy around Clark.
“Everyone sees it, the energy, the eyes, everyone’s cheering for her,” she said. “She signed an ultrasound; did you see it on social media? An ultrasound? Congratulations to the lady, but dang!”
The cultural shift is also obvious in local events, such as the Heartland Film Festival at Newfields, which will host the global premiere of ESPN+’s original series “Full Court Press,” starring Clark and others. With Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions backing the series, even the red carpet is coming to Indianapolis.
The Fever’s evolution from playing in smaller venues like the Indiana Farmers Coliseum to selling out major arenas demonstrates significant progress. NaLyssa Smith, the second pick in the 2022 draft, described the early days: “We used to play in a barn with, like, six fans,” she told me. “Now we’ll be playing sold-out arenas; people are shifting arenas to see us play. It’s going to be massive for us this year.”
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