‘The Caitlin Clark Effect’ was a term coined throughout the college basketball career of the former Iowa superstar to represent her impact on basketball beyond the sport. Playing with style of play and personality that helped draw bigger audiences and increase the national dialogue for the sport of women’s basketball in an unparalleled way.
From stadium attendance records to audience viewership records, Clark’s stardom at the college level was unprecedented and has followed her to the WNBA in several ways. Seen as early as the Indiana Fever doubling their season ticket prices after Clark declared for the WNBA Draft in Match before selecting her with the No. 1 overall pick in April. A night where her jersey also happened to become Fanatics’ top selling draft pick in history after nearly selling out almost immediately after it was listed on the online store.
The latest side effect of Clark’s popularity is being seen in the secondary ticket sale market, with the ticketing platform Logitix revealing that the resale price has grown up to $87.75 through the first half of the WNBA 2024 season compared to $50.10 last year during the 2023 season. And that Clark has definitely played a role in the growth.
Non-Indiana Fever road games have still trended upward in the resale ticket market up to $61.36 per ticket. But on the flip side, the Fever lead the WNBA in average resale prices for road teams at $160.09 per ticket. As fans have shown the willingness to pay top dollar when Clark and the Fever are in their city.
“Our analysis of WNBA ticket trends uncovers a fascinating narrative,” Travis Apple, Logitix’s chief revenue officer, said. “The growing spotlight on women’s basketball is dramatically driving up demand for live games, with this surge in interest evident across the entire league.”
Visiting teams have prepared and taken advantage of Clark’s draw on the road. Like the Atlanta Dream, who moved their two home matchups against the Fever this season from Gateway Center Arena to State Farm Arena. Selling out the home of the Atlanta Hawks in their matchup against Clark and Indiana in June with another sellout game in August.
Trailing right behind the Fever in resale ticket prices on the road are the Chicago Sky, who are headlined by the rookie duo of Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso. Who had their fair share of battles with Clark and one another at the college level and are now all working towards elevating the game. With the Sky ranking second in average secondary ticket prices on the road at $115.72 a ticket. Also leading the entire WNBA average home ticket resale price at $129.93 as the team continues to grow in popularity.
The intrigue of Clark and Reese’s national championship showdown in college during the 2023 NCAA Tournament has carried over to the WNBA level. With the second Sky versus Fever matchup of the season back on June 23 representing the highest-priced resale ticket of the season at $280.43.
A game that was also the most-watched WNBA game since 2010.
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