‘Caitlin Clark Effect’ hits Seattle: Storm ticket prices, attendance soared for Tuesday’s game
Jun 24, 2025, 11:00 PM | Updated: Jun 25, 2025, 6:17 am
Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indianan Fever reacts to a second half foul called on her in a game against the Seattle Storm at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on August 18, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo: Chet White, Getty Images)
(Photo: Chet White, Getty Images)
Everywhere Caitlin Clark goes, exorbitant ticket prices and mass interest follow. Seattle was no different when Clark and the Fever arrived earlier this week, defeating the Storm 94-86 Tuesday.
The cheapest tickets to get into Climate Pledge Arena to see Clark were going for roughly $75-85, according to GameTime Tickets, with floor seats costing $894 and courtside seats ranging anywhere from $1,500 to $4,000.
In comparison to Friday’s game against the Connecticut Sun, the most expensive ticket costs less than $1,200 while the cheapest available seats are going for less than $20.
The Caitlin Clark effect
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Ryan Brewer, an associate professor of finance at Indiana University Columbus, estimated Clark was responsible for 26.5% of all WNBA economic activity last season, according to NBC News, including revenue from merchandise, ticket sales, and television.
“If things just go as they were, and we have an expanded season of 22 home games with modest inflation, I’m looking at $875 (million),” Brewer told NBC News. “And I could easily see that eclipsing a billion dollars on the economic impact of Caitlin Clark this year.”
USA Today estimated that leaguewide viewership for the WNBA was down 55% when she was out for five games after injuring her quad.
Three new WNBA franchises will be in the fold by 2026, the first year of an 11-year media-rights deal worth approximately $2.2 billion.
Despite the new wave of funds hitting the league, Clark is in the middle of a four-year, $338,056 rookie contract. Clark’s agent told ESPN in February that it would be “impossible” to pay Clark what she is worth to the league. Clark did agree to an eight-year, $28 million deal with Nike.
Overall, WNBA attendance increased from an average of 6,615 in 2023 to 9,807 last year, according to NBC News, while the Fever’s home games averaged more fans than the home games for the Indiana Pacers.
The Storm had approximately 16,000 fans in attendance, according to The Seattle Times, larger than any home crowd they have had so far this season.
Storm v. Fever
The Seattle Storm are now 9-6 on the season following the loss to Indiana, ranking third in the Western Conference. The Storm won six of its last seven before Tuesday’s loss.
Meanwhile, the Indiana Fever climbed back to .500 with a 7-7 record.
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