Caitlin Clark remains WNBA's gold mine and Indiana Pacers can't compete with her

As the Indiana Pacers battle for a spot in the NBA Finals, the biggest sports sensation in the state isn't wearing blue and gold on the hardwood at Gainbridge Fieldhouse - it's Caitlin Clark, lighting up the WNBA with the Indiana Fever.

In what might seem like a shocking twist, ticket prices for Fever games are outpacing those of the Pacers' Eastern Conference Finals.

According to TickPick, the average ticket for a Fever regular season game is $149, significantly higher than the $131 average ticket price for Pacers playoff games through two rounds. Even more surprising, Fever ticket prices are 107% higher than the Pacers' regular season games.

It's another milestone in what's being dubbed the "Caitlin Clark Effect." The No. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft has brought unmatched energy and attention to the Fever.

Her magnetic on-court performances, competitive fire, and historic collegiate resume at Iowa have made her one of the most recognizable names in all of basketball - men's or women's.

Clark's superstar pull leaves the Pacers in the shadow

While the Pacers have exceeded expectations this postseason, defeating the Milwaukee Bucks and the Cleveland Cavaliers en route to the franchise's first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 10 years, they've still been upstaged by Clark's gravitational pull.

The Pacers, led by rising star Tyrese Haliburton, have relied on grit, team-first play, and the strategic brilliance of head coach Rick Carlisle. Their current playoff run is one of the league's most surprising stories, especially after back-to-back underdog victories over more highly favored opponents.

But even as the Pacers inch closer to their first NBA Finals appearance since 2000, Clark is consistently drawing larger headlines and generating more revenue. Her debut WNBA season has mirrored the frenzy she created at Iowa, where her games regularly sold out arenas and broke television ratings records.

And now in Indiana, that momentum hasn't slowed. Fever home games are seeing huge spikes in attendance and secondary ticket market prices, as fans from across the region flock to see Clark in action.

A new face of Indiana basketball

Caitlin Clark is not only the face of the Fever - she's become the face of Indiana sports. As the Pacers continue their Cinderella playoff push, they are quietly playing second fiddle to a WNBA rookie who has electrified fans and elevated the league's national profile.

Clark's meteoric rise is perfectly timed with the WNBA's growing media presence, fueled by high-profile rookie classes, prime-time broadcasts, and a shifting culture that's embracing women's sports like never before.

Her star power is proof that women's basketball is no longer a niche market - it's front and center. The Fever haven't reached championship contention just yet, but Clark's presence has made every game an event.

And while the Pacers chase a long-awaited Finals berth, they'll have to do so with the understanding that, at least for now, Indiana's biggest basketball star wears red and white - not navy and gold.