Every week that passes, it seems that Caitlin Clark gets even more popular. The NCAA phenom left the Iowa Hawkeyes as the highest scorer in NCAA history and was selected No. 1 overall by the Indiana Fever in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
Even before she was drafted, she was the subject of tons of sports stories, and it was clear that her stardom was undeniable. WNBA teams began to proactively move their showdowns with the Fever to bigger stadiums in preparation for Clark’s arrival, assuming it would lead to sold-out crowds.
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One of the first teams to do this was the Las Vegas Aces, who moved from the 12,000-capacity Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas to the 20,000-capacity T-Mobile Arena. The Los Angeles Sparks are also moving their games with Fever to the Crypto.com arena to prepare for the bigger crowds that want to see Clark in action. Tickets for some games the Fever will play are insanely high heading into the season.
Shortly after Clark was drafted, she also was the source of a bidding war with a multitude of athletic wear companies. Ultimately, she signed a Nike deal worth up to $28 million, which includes a signature shoe.
Everyone can see the massive impact that Clark has had on the game of basketball and she continues to showcase a popularity that has not been seen before in women’s sports. Now, her WNBA debut will make history with Disney+.
Disney+ will be debuting the season opener for the Indiana Fever on Tuesday when the regular season for the WNBA begins, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Fans who cannot attend the game will at least be able to see Clark in action from the comfort of their homes.
This is the first time that Disney+ has ever offered a live sporting event, and what a perfect event for the streaming service to showcase. Clark serves as a massive role model for young hopeful basketball players around the world, and what better way to showcase passion and dedication than her debut being displayed to the world on a family-friendly streaming platform?
The WNBA is in the midst of the preseason, as the Fever took on the Dallas Wings on Friday, losing with a final score of 79-76. Clark showcased her arrival in the professional league by securing a team-high 21 points. The Fever are set to end their preseason with a final game against the Atlanta Dream on Thursday, May 9.
Clark and the Fever will be opening the regular season against the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday, May 14, which will be live-streamed on Disney+. While there has been no report of the streaming service continuing to showcase Fever games, a deal could be struck if the viewership numbers are high.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.