Indiana Fever vs New York Liberty recreation with Caitlin Clark breaks $2M+ ticket document – NBC New York

Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark helped herald document ticket income for the New York Liberty in her first recreation within the Massive Apple on Saturday.

The Liberty had greater than $2 million in ticket income for the sport on the Barclays Heart, a WNBA document, an individual aware of the scenario instructed The Related Press, talking on situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t licensed to speak concerning the group’s income.

“That’s unimaginable,” Liberty star Breanna Stewart mentioned when she heard concerning the document ticket income. “I feel the excitement and eyes that Caitlin has introduced from Iowa now to the WNBA goes to be a collective win for all. Once I first began within the league, some groups weren’t even making income. … It’s a very long time coming. We’re glad to be at this level, however we’re not happy.”

The sport was bought out, with 17,735 followers in attendance, and tickets had been scorching on the secondary market.

“It says every little thing: The product now we have on the court docket is essential, however there’s a group working behind us that continues to gas this group and be the primary in a number of classes,” Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu mentioned. “Understanding that’s what we’re producing. It tells a narrative. It’s not a one-time factor.”

Promoting out arenas is nothing new for Clark. Her first three video games with the Fever have been large for attendance and TV rankings. The Connecticut Solar bought out their residence opener for the primary time in 20 years. Greater than 17,000 followers turned out for the Fever’s residence opener in opposition to the Liberty on Thursday night time.

Clark had among the finest video games of her younger professional profession on Saturday, ending with 22 factors, together with 15 within the first half, though the Fever misplaced 91-80.

She acquired going early in opposition to the Liberty, scoring 10 within the first quarter — greater than she had within the matchup between the groups two days earlier in Indianapolis, the place she simply had 9. She regarded extra assured attacking on offense and even hit just a few of her signature deep 3-pointers.

The league’s No. 1 draft choose is not any stranger to taking part in on the largest of levels, having introduced so many new followers to the game throughout her time at Iowa. She helped the Hawkeyes attain the NCAA championship recreation the previous two seasons and routinely performed in entrance of sellout crowds just like the one in New York on Saturday.

She drew girls’s sports activities royalty to the sport, with Billie Jean King, Sue Fowl, Megan Rapinoe, Michelle Wie West and Daybreak Staley all in attendance.

Clark got here into the sport averaging 14.5 factors, 4.5 assists and three.5 rebounds in her first two video games. She had shot poorly in her first two video games however was significantly better Saturday, going 9 for 17 from the sphere.

She additionally understands her significance to the sport, spending 10 minutes after warming up signing autographs for dozens of followers, together with many younger ladies who waited patiently for the rookie.

“I assumed the environment was unimaginable,” Clark mentioned. “Positively a number of younger ladies right here at this time — that was a number of enjoyable to see. The Liberty undoubtedly deserve this crowd. They have been unimaginable over the course of the previous couple of seasons. They will be unimaginable this yr. It is enjoyable to play in New York for the primary time and play in entrance of this atmosphere.”