Iowa Witnesses Spectacular Performance by Caitlin Clark in Her Return to Home Field for WNBA Debut with Indiana Fever
In a game-changing marketing strategy, the WNBA showcased a preseason battle between the Indiana Fever and the Brazilian National Team at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, home turf of Caitlin Clark's college squad, Iowa. Tickets for this spectacle, embodying the Clark craze in Iowa, became the priciest ever for a game featuring her, surpassing even the costliest home games of her decorated collegiate career.
A buzzing crowd eagerly awaited Clark's debut in the pro league, with fans lining up hours before the event. The petite powerhouse's appeal draws fanatics unlike any other WNBA player, and arguably, her fan magnetism outpaces that of most professional sports icons. In fact, a mind-boggling six WNBA rivals have already shifted their regular-season duels against the Fever to capacious arenas, catering to the influx of excited fans craving a Clark spectacle.
With the clock ticking, tension mounted, and Clark sparked the Indiana crowd into a frenzy. As envisioned, she embarked the game on a flamboyant note, draining a three-pointer from the get-go.
The Fever burst forth in an unrestrained offensive assault against the Brazilian National Team. Dominating the first quarter with a 37-17 win, they hammered further with an incredible 33-7 in the second, securing a staggering 70-24 halftime lead.
Clark claimed the scoring crown in the first half with 13 points, exhibiting her exceptional court awareness and silky smooth passing techniques.
The ESPN broadcast, equipped with a microphone, captured some fascinating interactions between Clark and teammate Aliyah Boston, as well as a poignant moment with the Brazil coach who lauded her as the one "reshaping basketball history."
Considering it was a preseason encounter, and one where the Fever demolished their adversary, Indiana eased off in the second half, allowing their bench players ample court time.
Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever turned Carver-Hawkeye Arena into a high-scoring masterclass in their preseason showdown against the Brazilian National Team.
(Image: Grace Smith/IndyStar/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Upon the final buzzer, Clark registered a well-deserved 16 points, 5 assists, and 6 rebounds (in 19 minutes of play), steering the Fever to a dominant 108-44 victory.
As the regular season commences on May 17, the Fever collide with the Chicago Sky, the team that drafted Angel Reese in the first round of the 2024 WNBA Draft. The much-anticipated match takes place at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indiana.
[Enrichment Data: The surging popularity of Caitlin Clark has led six WNBA teams to relocate their regular-season games against the Indiana Fever to larger arenas in 2025, capitalizing on the increased attention she brings to the league. This phenomenon is part of a broader trend, where Indiana Fever games are attracting more fans than usual, setting broadcast records, and often shifting to bigger stadiums. For instance, a nationally televised exhibition game against the Brazilian national team at Carver-Hawkeye Arena marked a first for the WNBA.[2][4]]
In line with the surging popularity of Caitlin Clark, six WNBA teams are set to relocate their regular-season games against the Indiana Fever to larger arenas in 2025, capitalizing on the increased attention she brings to the league. This isn't surprising, given that the appeal of Clark draws fanatics like no other WNBA player, with her fan magnetism outpacing many professional sports icons.
