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Caitlin Clark makes history AGAIN! Fever's clash against A'ja Wilson and the Aces smashes 25-year-old WNBA attendance record

4 months ago 45

By Leocciano Callao

Published: 16:24 BST, 3 July 2024 | Updated: 22:51 BST, 3 July 2024

The Tuesday night clash starring Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever against the Las Vegas Aces broke several attendance records as the former Iowa's Hawkeye's stardom continues to rise. 

A stampede of 20,366 fans packed Las Vegas' T-Mobile Arena to witness the rookie sensation take on A'Ja Wilson and the defending champions for the second time this season - a game the Aces would win 88-69. 

The game boasted the fifth highest attendance in WNBA regular season history and the most since the 1999 season. 

Tuesday's showdown was 308 spectators shy of breaking the WNBA record of 20,674 in a game between the Washington Mystics and the Cleveland Rockers in 1999. 

Aside from smashing the record at T-Mobile Arena, it was also the first WNBA game to surpass 19,500 fans outside Verizon Center/Capital One Arena in Washington or Madison Square Garden in New York. Both venues hosted 14 of the 15 most-attended games in league history.  

Caitlin Clark's showdown against A'ja WIlson and the Aces brought 20,366 fans in attendance 

Tuesday's game boasted the fifth highest attendance in WNBA regular season history

Clark's effect on the WNBA continues to be felt as viewership and attendance numbers continue to skyrocket throughout the season. 

Only two games have been attended by more than 20,000 fans and both featured the Fever. Aside from the clash at Sin City, their road game against the Mystics on June 7 brought 20,333 fans to the seats. 

The WNBA's spike in attendance began when approximately 400,000 fans attended games from the tip of the season through the end of May. The number makes for the most ticket sales through the first month of the season in 26 years. 

Additionally, more than half of WNBA game have been sellouts - a 156 percent increase from last season. 

Furthermore, the league averages 1.32 million viewers across networks - an astounding increase from last season's average of 462,200. Clark's showdowns with college rival and Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese has broken viewership records. 

Clark and the Fever starred in two of the most-attended games during this regular season 

The defending champions hosted the game at T-Mobile Arena and broke the venue's record 

Clark tallied a double-double with 13 points, 11 assists, and six rebounds in their losing effort 

Wilson tallied 28 points and nine rebounds as Las Vegas extend their win streak to five games 

Indiana and Chicago's game on June 23 averaged 2.302m viewers on ESPN, becoming the most-watched WNBA game in history. Clark also starred in the second-most watched game when the Fever defeated the Phoenix Mercury on June 30. 

'There's a lot of eyes on us now. Vegas has been showing up for the past two, three years, so I'm not surprised (the attendance record was broken),' Aces coach Becky Hammon said of the audience while crediting Clark.  

While Clark tallied a double-double with 13 points, 11 assists, and six rebounds, the champions were able to keep her and Indiana at bay for the win. 

Kelsey Plum led the way for Las Vegas with 34 points, six rebounds, and five assists. Wilson was a rebound short of a double-double with 28 points. Meanwhile, Jackie Young tallied 15 points and 10 dishes as the Aces extend their win streak to five games.  

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