Disney+ to Stream Caitlin Clark’s WNBA Debut As First Live Sporting Event

May 7, 2024 Jimm Sallivan

If you think Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark’s rise over the last four years—from Des Moines-area high school basketball star to one of the most transcendent college athletes ever—has been the stuff of Disney movies, you are not alone.

Disney+ will debut in the live sports space next Tuesday by airing Clark’s WNBA regular season debut, ESPN told The Hollywood Reporter Tuesday.

The Fever are slated to open their season against the Connecticut Sun, one of four games scheduled for the league’s first day. A second matchup between the Phoenix Mercury and Las Vegas Aces will also air on Disney+.

These two games will be the first traditional live sporting events to air on Disney+, barring a pair of themed animated telecasts of NFL and NHL games.

Clark was selected with the No. 1 pick by Indiana in the WNBA draft out of Iowa on April 15, part of a heralded rookie class that includes Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese and Los Angeles Sparks forward Cameron Brink.

4 Jun 24 Jimm Sallivan

Fever’s Attendance Surpasses Last Season’s Record Total After Just Five Games

The Indiana Fever have been the hottest ticket in women's basketball, having hosted the largest audiences in the WNBA throughout the first few weeks of the season.

Since drafting former Iowa Hawkeyes superstar Caitlin Clark with the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft, the Fever have been selling tickets at unprecedented rates. In fact, the Fever's home attendance through five games this season has already surpassed their total home attendance from last year, according to Front Office Sports.

Data from Across the Timeline indicates that Indiana is averaging a league-high 16,571 fans at their home games. They've already had a total attendance of 82,857 in their first five home games, which is more than their 2023 season total of 81,336, which was the second lowest in the league.

No team in the WNBA averages more fans home or away than the Indiana Fever.
Caitlin Clark's Fever has already broken its franchise attendance record set last season—in just five games.
More ⬇️
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) June 4, 2024

The impact Clark has had on ticket sales is undeniable. The Fever averaged an attendance of 4,066.5 fans last year, a figure which has more than quadrupled in '24.

That impact extends to the road, too. The Los Angeles Sparks hosted the league's largest crowd at a single game this season when 19,103 fans poured into the Crypto.com Arena for a matchup against Clark and the rest of the Fever.

In fact, in all but one of the Fever's road games this year, the home team has had their highest attendance of the season. The only exception was the Las Vegas Aces, as their home opener had a slightly larger turnout than their matchup against Indiana. At road games this year, an average of 15,315 fans have turned up to see the Fever, coming in well ahead of the Sparks (11,104).

9 Jun 24 Jimm Sallivan

Caitlin Clark Had Classy Response to U.S. Olympic Team Snub

The basketball world went into a frenzy when the U.S. Olympic women's basketball team was announced on Saturday, mostly because Caitlin Clark was left off the roster.

While many fans were upset about this "snub," Clark reacted to the news with class by explaining how she wasn't disappointed to hear the news. Instead, she's using this as motivation to help her make the team for the 2028 Olympics.

"Honestly, no disappointment. I think it just gives you something to work for," Clark said, via Indy Star's Chloe Peterson. "It's a dream, hopefully one day I can be there. I think it's just a little more motivation. You remember that and hopefully in four years, when four years comes back around, I can be there."

Here are her full comments:

When it comes to not making the Olympic team, Caitlin Clark has nothing but praise for the 12 who made it: “it’s the toughest team to make.”
Clip: pic.twitter.com/LX59YA5Bzf
— Chloe Peterson (@chloepeterson67) June 9, 2024

Instead of just focusing on herself, Clark shifted the conversation to talk about how excited she is for the 12 women who were named to Team USA.

"I'm excited for the girls that are on the team," Clark said. "I know it's the most competitive team in the world. I know it could've gone either way of me being on the team, me not being on the team. I'm excited for them. I'm going to be rooting them on to win gold."

Clark has helped bring in record crowds to Indiana Fever games this season, and her stardom was reportedly part of the reason she was kept off the Olympic team this year as the team worried how fans would "react to what would likely be limited playing time on a stacked roster."

2 Jun 24 Jimm Sallivan

Sky’s Chennedy Carter Disses Caitlin Clark on Social Media After Fever Loss

Chicago Sky's Chennedy Carter caught some flack from WNBA fans on Saturday after she issued a hard foul on Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark.

The foul was originally issued an away-from-ball foul, but it was later changed to a Flagrant 1 after a WNBA review. Carter refused to answer any questions about Clark in her post-game media session, so it's unclear what caused the incident.

Carter didn't keep her silence for too long regarding the situation, as she posted a comment about Clark on Threads on Sunday. The comment was clearly a dig at Clark, who was the No. 1 WNBA draft pick in April.

"Beside three point shooting what does she bring to the table man," Carter wrote.

pic.twitter.com/ulVucPtoMB
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) June 2, 2024

There seems to be some tension on and off the court now between some of the players.

The foul itself sparked a frenzy on social media, with Fever coach Christie Sides even adding her thoughts on the "unacceptable" foul. She even posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, asking for something to be done about fouls like this.

This is unacceptable @wnba
When will the consistent complaints be heard?!? Something has to be done! https://t.co/QVf1vHA5l4
— Christie Sides (@ChristieSides) June 1, 2024

US Sports News

Disney+ to Stream Caitlin Clark’s WNBA Debut As First Live Sporting Event

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