Caitlin Clark shatters an all-time Las Vegas Aces record to heat up the Playoffs even further
The Washington Mystics took advantage of Clark's advantage
The Washington Mystics pulled off a major attendance feat during their season finale against the Indiana Fever, despite a tough year on the court. Taking advantage of Caitlin Clark‘s star power, the Mystics moved the game to Capital One Arena, a larger venue usually reserved for the NBA’s Washington Wizards.
The move proved to be a success, with 20,711 fans filling the seats-breaking the record for the highest-attended WNBA regular-season game.
Typically, the Mystics play at the Entertainment and Sports Arena, which has a much smaller capacity of 4,200. However, recognizing Clark’s drawing power, they made the smart decision to relocate to the 20,356-seat Capital One Arena.
Fans eagerly showed up, undeterred by the Mystics‘ 13-win season, to watch the Fever’s standout rookie in action.
This game shattered the previous attendance record of 20,674, set by Washington during the 1998 and 1999 seasons. Even more exciting for the home crowd, the Mystics pulled off a narrow 92-91 victory over Clark and the Fever.
The Las Vegas Aces made a similar move earlier in the season, moving their game against the Fever to the larger T-Mobile Arena, where 20,366 fans attended.
But it was Washington’s decision to relocate this game that secured the new WNBA regular-season attendance record.
Breaking various records
Clark‘s presence in the league has been nothing short of historic. On Thursday, she set a record for the most points by a point guard in a single WNBA season, adding to her previous records for the most points by a rookie and the single-season assist record.
Clark also led the league in three-pointers, finishing with the second-most in a single season with 122. She even received the highest number of All-Star votes in WNBA history and became the first rookie to record a triple-double.
Her impact has revitalized the Indiana Fever, pushing the team into the playoffs for the first time in eight years and making them one of the most popular teams in the league. All 14 of the most-watched WNBA games this season featured the Fever, largely thanks to Clark‘s performances.
