The buzz around Caitlin Clark continues to escalate, with even her prospective rivals capitalizing on the excitement. As the NCAA’s top scorer of all time, Clark is on the brink of her WNBA debut in a matter of weeks, prompting opposing teams to adapt their strategies in preparation for facing one of the most prominent figures in sports.
Certain teams are relocating their matches against Clark’s Indiana Fever to larger venues or ramping up promotional efforts to draw more spectators to the highly anticipated games featuring the basketball phenom.

On April 17, the Indiana Fever hosted a press conference in Indianapolis to extend a warm welcome to Caitlin Clark.

Clark, whom the Fever snagged as the top pick in the 2024 draft, is on the brink of finalizing a lucrative eight-figure deal with Nike, poised to launch her own signature shoe—a privilege bestowed upon only a select few WNBA players.

Undoubtedly, the Caitlin Clark phenomenon is already reshaping the landscape of professional women’s basketball. Here’s how some WNBA teams are gearing up for the arrival of the league’s newest sensation:

Washington Mystics move game vs. Fever to Capital One Arena

The Washington Mystics have opted to relocate their upcoming match against the Indiana Fever on June 7 to the Capital One Arena, citing “unprecedented demand” as the driving force behind the decision. This move, endorsed by Washington, D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser, will afford thousands more spectators the opportunity to witness Clark’s inaugural appearance in the nation’s capital. While the Mystics typically play at the Entertainment & Sports Arena, boasting a capacity of 4,200, Capital One Arena, home to the Washington Wizards, can accommodate up to 20,000 fans.

“The move to Capital One Arena will allow for additional fans in the stands as well as premium hospitality options, including Suites and the all-new all-inclusive courtside Hennessy Lofts,” the team announced.

Las Vegas Aces move game vs. Fever to T-Mobile Arena

The reigning champs vs. the rookie will be in a bigger arena too.

The two-time defending champion Las Vegas Aces also changed the venue for their July 2 game against the Fever. The matchup will be played at T-Mobile Arena, which seats 20,000 people. The Aces’ home venue, the Michelob ULTRA Arena, has a capacity of 12,000.

Sparks, Sky arena issues vs. Caitlin Clark

Two teams still playing in smaller arenas against the Fever are resulting in sky-high prices to get in.

The Los Angeles Sparks will host Indiana on May 24, but it won’t be played at their home, Crypto.com Arena. Because of construction at the arena, the Sparks are moving their first five games to Walter Pyramid at Long Beach State, which includes the matchup against Clark.

As a result, the game goes from a near-19,000 seat arena to around 4,000.

With such limited seats, the price to see the game on the secondary market are among the highest in the WNBA. The get-in price for the game is $373 on TickPick as of Thursday evening, and they are above $400 on other secondary markets.

The Chicago Sky pretty much have the same issue.
Their June 23 home game against Indiana will be played at their home, Wintrust Arena, which has 10,387 seats.

The Sky are unable to move the game to United Center, which has around 21,000 seats, because of a concert. The get-in price for the game on June 23 is $311 on TickPick as of Thursday evening.
Phoenix Mercury build up Diana Taurasi-Caitlin Clark rivalry

The Phoenix Mercury are preparing for their legend and the WNA’s all-time leading scorer to take Clark.

Before the WNBA Draft, the team posted an advertisement on social media for single game tickets against the Fever. The post featured a graphic Diana Taurasi “The Goat” looming over a shadow of a player wearing Clark’s No. 22 named “The Rook.”

The rivalry had been building after Taurasi spoke with ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt about what rookies can expect when making the leap from college to the pros. Van Pelt asked the question about rookies in general, naming Clark and South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso.
“Reality is coming. There’s levels to this thing,” Taurasi said.
Minnesota Lynx to honor Maya Moore vs. Fever
Clark will be in the arena to see her idol be cemented in WNBA history.
The Minnesota Lynx scheduled Maya Moore’s number retirement ceremony for the game against the Fever on Aug. 24. Clark has been open about Moore being her childhood idol.