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Caitlin’s meteoric ascent is causing ripples far beyond the court. She retired in early April after playing her final college basketball match, with the most points ever scored by men and women combined, according to National Collegiate Athletic Association history. The Iowa Hawkeyes reached back-to-back championships after previously having only made it to the final one time in their history.
She was the WNBA number one choice eight days later. After five professional games, she has made quite an impression. 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, in front of 10 399 fans. 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 the most selected player in both men’s and woman’s matches over the past seven days. PrizePicks reported that she had been picked more than Jayson Tatum or 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, for example, that Clark, despite her being a novice, is third favourite to win the MVP Award. 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 the WNBA MVP.
The Fever are the fifth favourites 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 pack in WNBA betting with 48.8% tickets sold and 43.1% handle. Their odds were lowered by about a fifth.
The hype isn’t for everyone. Fanatics has the highest handle of all WNBA Futures Bets for the Fever to lose 21 or fewer games over the course of the season.
Clark boosting betting
Jay Kornegay, vice president for race and sportsbook at Westgate Las Vegas’ SuperBook. SuperBook, like Fanatics has also seen a surge in betting on Clark and the WNBA Rocket.
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-catcher and 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 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 new star ranks among the best players in the WNBA. She averages 19th place in league points and 4th in assists.
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, which means a championship or playoff run, then 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 was the South Carolina-Iowa NCAA final game, which took 34% more wagers. 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 able to reach a crescendo, as in Clark’s 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.
