Women’s basketball to benefit from ‘Caitlin Clark effect’

Superstar guard Caitlin Clark will make her official WNBA debut in her first regular season for Indiana Fever tonight against the Connecticut Sun in front of a sold-out crowd.

The 22-year-old No.1 draft pick from Iowa has changed women’s basketball. While in college, she drove up viewership and ticket sales. Her presence heightened interest in the sport.

She drew 13,000 fans to the Fever’s home debut on May 9 at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The team’s preseason opener in Dallas was sold out.

Even the league is trying to leverage the support generated by the ‘Caitlin Clark effect.’

Several WNBA teams have moved their home games to larger venues to maximize ticket sales when Clark is the opponent. StubHub reports ticket sales for games are already up more than 90% on average from last year.

A record-setting 36 of the Fever’s 40 games will be on national television this season, compared with one last year.

The league added charter flights for teams this season instead of having them travel in Economy Plus.

A new era
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert recently said she is looking to double the league’s $60 million TV rights deal after it expires next year.

The move could increase women players’ salaries significantly. Currently, the highest-paid WNBA player, Jackie Young, will earn just over $250,000 this season, while NBA star Steph Curry’s earnings are projected to be at $51.9 million.