Caitlin Clark's absence continues to impact key Fever metric

With Clark sidelined, fans enjoy cheap tickets but her comeback next season is likely to push prices toward league highs.
Sep 7, 2025; Baltimore, MD, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) looks on from the bench against the Washington Mystics during the first quarter at CFG Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images
Sep 7, 2025; Baltimore, MD, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) looks on from the bench against the Washington Mystics during the first quarter at CFG Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images | Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images

For Game 2 of the Indiana Fever series 1 against Atlanta Dream, tickets were shockingly low compared to the league average. For just $8, you could watch a WNBA playoff game and leave with your wallet barely touched. The average WNBA ticket price in 2025 is around $173. That’s a massive difference from what fans in Indianapolis paid this past week. For the semifinals, Fever tickets are as low as $35 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

The Impact of Caitlin Clark's Absence

The Fever have obviously been playing without Caitlin Clark since July and her absence has clearly had a measurable impact on the team’s visibility, attendance, and fan enthusiasm. Before Clark’s injury, the Fever had strong engagement with TV ratings averaging around 1.8 million viewers per game. Post-injury, those numbers dropped to under 850,000 viewers per game Attendance followed a similar trend, falling by roughly 1,000 to 1,200 fans per game. In other words, while fans were lucky to score a cheap ticket this season, the team’s visibility and market value suffered without its marquee player on the floor.

Comparison with New York Liberty Ticket Prices

The contrast becomes even starker when we look at other teams and ticket prices. Take the New York Liberty, for example. With star players like Sabrina Ionescu driving demand, Liberty tickets at Barclay’s Center have surged. Season ticket holders saw average prices jump from $55 in 2024 to nearly $97 in 2025, a 76% increase. This rise shows how the presence of elite talent continues to directly impacts ticket demand. If the Fever had Clark in the lineup this whole season, their $8 tickets would likely be far closer to the league average or even above average, rather than an extreme bargain.

The Future: Ticket Prices Are Set to Rise

Assuming Clark returns healthy next season and the Fever maintain competitive performance, ticket prices are almost certain to rise exponentially. The average ticket price for a WNBA game has already risen 43% from 2024 to 2025, and the Fever's games were among the most in-demand this season.

It's reasonable to estimate a conservative 40–50% increase on average for regular-season Fever games and higher for marquee matchups or playoffs. What feels like a steal now could soon become one of the more sought-after bargains in the league especially after the Fever have been performing so well in the playoffs this season. Once Caitlin Clark returns, expect ticket prices to rise, reflecting her significant impact on the team's popularity and performance.