Bargain-priced tickets for Caitlin Clark vs Angel Reese's opening game jeopardize their $136 million dream
Gear Up for the Blockbuster WNBA Brawl!
Get ready, sports enthusiasts! The WNBA is back in action, and the opening weekend promises a mouth-watering matchup between rising stars.
Angel Reese's Chicago Sky and Caitlin Clark's Indiana Fever are set to square off on Saturday, but fans' anticipation for this showdown might not reach the expected heights.
The WNBA is pushing this game to the forefront for a reason – to pack stadiums and capture eyeballs on screens everywhere. However, the demand for tickets isn't as intense as one might expect, with seats still available on secondary marketplaces, starting from as low as $35.
This surprise comes despite the fact that games featuring Clark often top the list of in-demand WNBA matches in a season. Four of the top five priciest games this season feature the Indiana Fever, with the sole exception being the WNBA All-Star game.
Now, it's important to note that the event takes place at the Gainbridge Field Arena, a 18,000-seater venue typically hosting the NBA's Indiana Pacers. Yet, high-capacity venues have never seemed to dampen Clark game ticket sales. Given the heated rivalry brewing between Reese and Clark, the low ticket prices seem extra intriguing.
Their rivalry stems from as far back as 2019, when they first crossed paths in the Amateur Athletic Union circuit. However, things really ignited in 2023 during the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament, as Clark's Iowa Hawkeyes faced off against Reese's LSU Tigers. LSU emerged victorious in the National Championship game, with Reese earning MVP honors, and things took a playful turn off the court between the rivals.
Reese, following her championship win, famously taunted Clark by mimicking John Cena's "You can't see me" catchphrase and flaunting her national championship ring. The incident was soon followed by accusations of disrespectful gestures from Clark during her team's Elite Eight game against Louisiana State.
Since the incident, both Clark and Reese have skyrocketed to fame, gracing the covers of TIME and Vogue magazines, respectively. However, the anticipation surrounding their upcoming matchup might not fill the arena to its full capacity on opening weekend – a situation the WNBA would certainly prefer to avoid after experiencing a $136 million growth in 2024.
A 2024 report showed that the WNBA was able to generate $136 million in sponsor media value during the regular season, and they'd undoubtedly hope for an even grander total this season. It's hard to imagine the arena won't be bustling by the game's start, with the WNBA front office keeping a keen eye on the proceedings.
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Despite the growing anticipation surrounding the square-off between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark in the WNBA, tickets for the highly-touted game remain relatively affordable, making it an enticing opportunity for sports enthusiasts. With both players already grabbing headlines in their respective NCAA Women's Basketball careers, the transfer to the WNBA promises to breathe new life into the NBA's sister league, enhancing its popularity even further.
