Caitlyn Clark has become a transformative figure for the Indiana Fever, driving significant changes within the franchise.
Her influence has led to a remarkable surge in fan engagement, with attendance rising by 320%, bringing over 177,000 fans to games.
This newfound popularity has also sparked the development of a new $78 million training facility for the Fever, set to open before the 2027 WNBA season.
The facility, which will feature state-of-the-art amenities like strength training areas and wellness rooms, underscores the Fever’s commitment to player development and the growing prominence of women’s sports.
Clark’s impact is seen not only in attendance numbers but also in the Fever’s broader transformation.
The franchise’s success reflects a league-wide trend of investment in improved facilities.
Other teams, including the Las Vegas Aces and Chicago Sky, are also building purpose-built complexes, highlighting the WNBA’s accelerating growth.
The Fever’s new facility will be located on the site of a former jail, further symbolizing the franchise’s ambitious vision for the future.
Fans have been vocal on social media, advocating for the new facility to be named after Clark in recognition of her profound influence on the team’s success.
The rising costs of building such facilities, some reaching over $35 million, reflect the increasing value placed on women’s sports.
As the Fever’s new center takes shape, it is clear that Clark’s legacy is already intertwined with the future of the franchise.
Her impact has been compared to that of legendary players like Michael Jordan, drawing attention to the significant growth of women’s basketball.
The surge in attendance and financial potential suggests that women’s sports, especially basketball, are on the cusp of a new era of recognition and support.
Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark is part of the ownership group trying to bring an NWSL expansion team to Cincinnati.
Cincinnati is one of a handful of finalists bidding for an NWSL expansion team that is expected to be awarded before the end of the year.
The team would begin play in 2026, joining a previously announced expansion team in Boston to bring the NWSL to 16 teams.
“The NWSL Cincinnati bid team is thrilled that Caitlin Clark has joined our ownership group in pursuit of bringing a women’s professional soccer team to our city,” the NWSL Cincinnati bid team said in a statement to ESPN.
“Her passion for the sport, commitment to elevating women’s sports in and around the Greater Cincinnati region, and influence as an athlete and role model for women and girls around the world, make her a vital part of our compelling bid to become the 16th team in the NWSL.”
Clark was selected first in the WNBA draft this year by the Fever after breaking the NCAA scoring record at the University of Iowa. She won WNBA Rookie of the Year in 2024 and became the first rookie since Candace Parker in 2008 to make the All-WNBA First Team.
The ownership group of MLS team FC Cincinnati is leading the bid. Also in contention are groups from Cleveland, Denver, Nashville and Philadelphia. Cincinnati is considered one of the favorites in the process because of its ownership backing and existing infrastructure, sources told ESPN, with a stadium already purpose-built for soccer.
Cleveland, Denver and Philadelphia all hope to build stadiums and play in temporary venues upon launching in 2026 if their bid is accepted, multiple sources said.
The group in Cleveland, which multiple sources also consider to have a strong bid, recently announced that it acquired the downtown land on which it intends to build a stadium.
Multiple sources said the expansion fee for the 16th NWSL team could approach $100 million. Boston and Bay FC, which began play this year, each paid $53 million to enter the league after being selected in 2023.
The most recent process started earlier this year with about a dozen serious inquiries in the first stage of bidding.
