Introduction to Caitlin Clark’s Return to Iowa

Caitlin Clark’s return to Iowa’s Carver-Hawkeye Arena for the WNBA preseason game between the Indiana Fever and Brazilian national team averaged 1.3 million viewers on ESPN, the network announced Tuesday.

The average viewership for Sunday’s game was 13% higher than ESPN’s 2024 regular-season average for the WNBA.

Game Overview

The Fever-Brazil television audience peaked at 1.6 million, and the game drew a sellout crowd of 15,000 at Carver-Hawkeye, where the average paid ticket price on the resale market was $440.
Clark, starting her second season with the Fever, scored 16 points in Indiana’s 108-44 win.

Caitlin Clark’s Impact

It was the NCAA Division I all-time scoring leader’s second time back at Carver-Hawkeye since she left the Hawkeyes; her jersey No. 22 was retired in a ceremony after Iowa’s 76-69 win over Southern California on Feb. 2.

Viewership and Attendance

The significant viewership and attendance figures underscore the popularity of Caitlin Clark and the interest in women’s basketball. The sellout crowd and high resale ticket prices indicate a strong demand to see Clark play, especially in her return to Iowa.

Future Prospects

The success of this preseason game could have implications for future WNBA games and events. With the league continuing to grow in popularity, games featuring popular players like Caitlin Clark could attract even larger audiences and help to further increase the profile of the WNBA.

Conclusion

Caitlin Clark’s return to Iowa for the Fever preseason game was a significant event, drawing a large audience both in person and on television. The success of this game highlights the growing interest in women’s basketball and the star power of players like Clark.

FAQs

• Q: How many viewers watched Caitlin Clark’s return to Iowa on ESPN?
  • A: 1.3 million viewers watched the game on average.
• Q: How did the viewership compare to the 2024 regular-season average for the WNBA?
  • A: The viewership was 13% higher than the 2024 regular-season average.
• Q: What was the attendance at Carver-Hawkeye Arena for the game?
  • A: The game drew a sellout crowd of 15,000.
• Q: How much were tickets selling for on the resale market?
  • A: The average paid ticket price on the resale market was $440.