The New York Liberty and Indiana Fever made WNBA history on Saturday by attracting the largest paid attendance since the league’s inception in 1997. As reported by Spotify’s Bri Lewerke, the game generated over $2 million in ticket revenue and sold out the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, which has a basketball seating capacity of nearly 18,000.
Fans flocked to see Caitlin Clark, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft, play her third regular-season game. Additionally, the Liberty featured former No. 1 picks Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart. Clark’s widespread popularity, particularly in a major market like New York, significantly boosted interest in the game.
At 22, Clark had an illustrious college career at the University of Iowa, where she became one of women’s college basketball’s all-time greats. She won every major player of the year award in her final two seasons and led Iowa to consecutive National Championship Games. Her senior season saw her average 31.6 points per game, making her a clear choice for the Fever’s No. 1 draft pick. Remarkably, her Fever jersey sold out on the Fanatics website within an hour of her being drafted.
Clark’s first two WNBA games included a road game against the Connecticut Sun and a home game against the Liberty, both of which ended in losses. Despite the Fever’s 91-80 loss on Saturday, dropping them to 0-3, Clark had her best performance yet, scoring 22 points on 9-of-17 shooting, and adding eight assists and six rebounds.
The game also showcased a strong performance from the undefeated Liberty, who reached the WNBA Finals last season. All five Liberty starters scored in double figures, with Stewart contributing 24 points and Ionescu adding 12 points.
