The University of Iowa, Hawkeye basketball fans, and opposing teams in the Big 10 conference have all experienced the "Caitlin Clark Effect." If her recent appearance on the Pat McAfee show was any indication, one of the biggest sports talk shows in the world might cash in on this effect as well.

College stadiums, college campuses, and college cities all saw an increase in fan attendance when the Hawkeyes traveled on road games during Caitlin Clark's senior season. Tickets for Iowa Hawkeyes games were incredibly tough to find, as the team sold out before the season even started in 2023.

It turns out that plenty of basketball fans are excited to watch Caitlin Clark play at the next level. The 'Caitlin Clark Effect' is already taking place in the WNBA before she has even attended her first professional practice.

Have you seen the price of tickets when the Indiana Fever travels to Minneapolis to play against the Minnesota Lynx?!

Caitlin Clark Effect

Tickets for Caitlin's first game in Minneapolis START at $200. I didn't search for tickets in the price range that is shown in that photo. Those are the cheapest tickets you can find as of right now.

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I grew up in Minneapolis and lived in Minnesota for 31 years. I've been lucky enough to watch the Lynx win multiple championships and there was a time in the 2010s when the Lynx were considered one of, if not the, best team in the WNBA. They won the WNBA finals in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017, according to Brittanica. I know first hand that tickets haven't been that hard to come by...ever.

WNBA VS NBA

The average price of a 'normal' Lynx game is around $45. When the Indiana Fever visits Minnesota, the only tickets available cost $235, according to CBS.  If you wanted to watch the Minnesota Timberwolves, who was one of the best teams in the NBA this year, you could get 'cheaper' tickets for around $60 and go to just about any regular season game you wanted. You can currently find Timberwolves PLAYOFF tickets for under $125, according to Seat Geek!

That right there is the definition of the 'Caitlin Clark Effect." If you feel like you really want to get an up close and personal view of the Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark, when they travel to Minneapolis, it will cost you over $1,000

Will She Succeed?

There will always be people who want to hate on others. You can see comments on social media of people wondering why the tickets are so expensive for someone who didn't win an NCAA championship or why is there so much hype over someone who hasn't stepped foot on a WNBA court yet and blah blah blah.

There's no doubt the competition will be higher than Caitlin has experienced before. Every single player in the WNBA was once the best player on their college team, the best high school prospect in their state, or something close to it. Everyone is good at the professional level.

Every WNBA player can shoot, rebound, and play defense. Caitlin isn't just playing against good teenagers and young 20-year-olds anymore. She's playing against grown women, who focus so much of their lives on basketball, every time she steps on the court. The basketball IQ  on the court is going to be higher than Caitlin has ever seen before. It will be different than playing against talented college athletes.

But, if I were a betting man, I think it would be a pretty safe bet that Caitlin will be just fine playing against the best in the world. How scary is it that she might get even better and elevate her game as she plays against the best female basketball players in the world?

All I can say is...good for you Caitlin and this is great for the WNBA.