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Clark’s rapid rise has ripples that go beyond basketball courts. She retired from college basketball in early April with the most points ever scored by men and women of both genders within the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The Iowa Hawkeyes reached back-to-back championships after previously only reaching one final in the history of their programme.
She was chosen as the number one player in the WNBA eight days later. After playing five games with the Indiana Fever, she has made a big impression in professional basketball. Fans are eager to watch her.
Gainbridge Fieldhouse was sold out for both of the Fever home games. The Fever also sold out their first home game since 2003, when they played the Connecticut Suns. The Seattle Storm, as well as the New York Liberty also had record attendances.
In anticipation of high sales, the Fever game in Las Vegas on July 7th has been relocated to T-Mobile Arena. This will be the Fever’s second game in Las Vegas during this season. The Aces won their first encounter 99-80 last weekend in front of 10,399 spectators. The Aces’ match was attended by 10,399 fans, the fourth highest attendance at Michelob ULTRA Arena.
Clark’s splash has been a hit in daily fantasy games and sportsbooks. PrizePicks, a daily fantasy sports operator told iGB that it had seen a 185% rise in WNBA predictions for the opening night of 2023.
Clark was chosen more often than either Jayson Tatum or Nikola Jokic, winners of three out of the four NBA MVP titles in the past seven days. PrizePicks reported that she had been picked more than Jayson Tatum and Nikola Jokic – the winners of three out of four NBA MVP awards.
Clark is a favorite for MVP
Sportsbooks also show the “Clark Effect”.
Fanatics Sportsbook shared that Clark, even though she is a rookie in the WNBA, was the third favourite to win MVP. She would be the only rookie in WNBA history to accomplish this feat, after Candace Parker’s 2008 debut. Clark is the favorite of 29.2% fans who bet on WNBA MVP.
The Fever are a fifth favourite to win this year’s WNBA Championship. This is despite 2023’s 13-27 record, which was the third worst in the league. Indiana has lost six of its seven games since 2024’s season began on May 14.
Since 2016, the Fever hasn’t been able to qualify for postseason play. This year they are leading the WNBA betting with 48.8% tickets sold and 43.1% handle. Their odds were slashed a fifth as a result.
Some people aren’t believing the hype. Fanatics has seen the highest handle for any WNBA Futures Bet.
Clark boosting betting
Jay Kornegay, vice president of sports and racebook operations for the Westgate Las Vegas is the home of SuperBook. SuperBook, like Fanatics has also seen a surge in betting on Clark and WNBA.
SuperBook’s wagering handle for the WNBA is up 22% from previous years. Kornegay likens Clark’s impact to Tiger Woods on golf during the 90s.
Kornegay said to iGB that “there’s no question the impact is real.” Tiger was an eye-catching phenomenon who made golf relevant to gaming circles.
Caitlin has also done this with women’s sport. There are inquiries not only about women’s sport, but also other sports like golf and soccer.
The Caitlin-Clark Effect and Fever Performances
Kornegay said that the SuperBook’s prop bets placed on Clark received similar results to those of NBA playoffs.
WNBA is no different from other US leagues like the NFL or MLB. The best college talent goes often to the worse teams. The worst teams in all US professional leagues get first picks to increase parity.
Clark now plays for a team that is currently 1-6. Their star player already ranks among the best in the WNBA. She averages 19th place in league points per game, and 4th in assist.
Kornegay warns that the Fever’s chances of making the playoffs are already slim. The potential in the betting stats will not be realized until the Fever’s on-court performances improve.
Kornegay stated, “I would expect that if the team doesn’t achieve much success in court then their [wagering] number will likely decrease a bit until they experience more success.”
They are making progress, and success will be in their near future. Once they achieve success – meaning, a playoff or championship run – I would think that those numbers will be close to the NCAA tournament.
NCAA Tournament betting numbers surpass USWNT
USWNT is a long-standing leader in female sport. Kornegay claimed that Clark’s performance in the NCAA tourney earlier this year prompted greater betting interest than the USWNT.
Kornegay stated that the effect was evident when she looked back at her college years. “Those games broke records. Caitlin and the Iowa women’s team set records.
The US Women’s Soccer Team is included in that. Before this season, if you asked me what the most popular sport for women was, I would have said the US Women’s Soccer Team. “This year Caitlin and her team exceeded that.”
The next-most bet-on event, the South Carolina-Iowa NCAA final matchup on 7th April, was beaten by 34%. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves NBA match was the second most bet on event.
Global interest and sell-out arenas
Sports Media Watch statistics show that Clark played in three WNBA matches with the most viewers since 2022.
iGB contacted the WNBA to get a comment, but received no response.
Top media in the UK are also taking an interest. TNT Sports has announced a multiyear deal to broadcast at least 16 WNBA games in live action throughout the UK and Ireland. The social media buzz has been a major factor.
The Fever pitch will be a major factor in whether it reaches the same crescendo that Clark experienced during her Iowa days. If that happens, however, betting numbers could become astronomical, as Clark becomes the face and voice of women’s sports in the WNBA.
