Caitlin Clark, the phenom rookie point guard for the Indiana Fever, drew a record crowd to Washington, D.C., on Thursday night as the Mystics hosted the Fever in a thrilling season finale, Fox News reports.
The game, originally scheduled for the Mystics’ smaller home arena, was moved to the larger Capital One Arena, home of the NBA’s Washington Wizards, to accommodate the anticipated influx of fans eager to witness Clark’s historic rookie season.
The gamble paid off in a big way. A total of 20,711 fans packed the arena, shattering the previous WNBA regular-season attendance record of 20,674 set in 1998 and 1999.
The Mystics, despite having only 13 wins heading into the game, managed to pull off a 92-91 victory over the Fever, adding to the excitement of the evening.
Clark, who had already broken numerous records this season, continued her dominance on Thursday, becoming the first rookie to record the most points by a point guard in a single WNBA season. She also set the record for most points by a rookie and the league’s single-season assist record.
The Fever’s presence in the playoffs after an eight-year absence is largely attributed to Clark’s impact. Her record-breaking season has not only brought her personal acclaim, but also boosted the Fever’s popularity, making them one of the league’s most talked about teams.
Clark’s teammate, Kelsey Mitchell, admitted that the team’s newfound visibility is directly tied to Clark’s star power, stating she wouldn’t be as well-known without her teammate’s impact. Erica Wheeler, another Fever player, expressed that Clark’s presence has also brought increased scrutiny, forcing the team to become more resilient.
