Since her college days at Iowa, Caitlin Clark has been familiar with the rivalry between her team and Indiana. However, now that she’s been drafted as the No. 1 overall pick by the Indiana Fever, she’s hopeful that Hoosier fans can shift their allegiance to support her.
Under the guidance of coach Teri Moren, the Indiana women’s basketball program has experienced a significant rise in attendance. Notably, the team achieved its first-ever sellout crowd during the 2023 season finale against Purdue. Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall is consistently packed with enthusiastic fans for women’s basketball games, contributing to Indiana’s ranking as second in the Big Ten and fifth nationally in total attendance for women’s basketball during the 2023-24 season.
One of the most electrifying moments of the season occurred on Feb. 22, 2024, when Caitlin Clark led the No. 2 Iowa Hawkeyes into Assembly Hall to face No. 14 Indiana. Hoosier fans were lined up outside the arena hours before the game, displaying their enthusiasm with a whiteout attire theme.
The crowd erupted with cheers every time Sara Scalia and Mackenzie Holmes scored, tallying a combined 49 points in Indiana’s 86-69 victory. Interestingly, Hoosier fans appeared equally thrilled whenever Caitlin Clark missed a shot or committed one of her five turnovers, resulting in her third-lowest field goal percentage of the season at 8-for-26.
Two months prior, the Indiana Fever secured the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. While Clark would undoubtedly be the top choice if she chose to forego her final year of college eligibility and enter the draft, not all Fever fans were thrilled about the prospect.
During Indiana’s game against Iowa in February, one Hoosier fan held up a sign directed at Lin Dunn, the general manager of the Fever, stating, “Lin, we don’t want her!” This sentiment reflected some Indiana fans’ displeasure with Clark, stemming from her competitive history against Iowa in Big Ten matchups.
At her introductory press conference with the Fever, Clark echoed this competitive spirit, emphasizing her readiness to embrace the challenge ahead.
Clark reflected on her contentious history playing against Indiana, acknowledging the mutual animosity between herself and Hoosier fans. However, she expressed hope that with her new role with the Indiana Fever, those same fans might transition their support to her WNBA team. Despite the rivalry, she admitted that when the Fever secured the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA Draft, she was thrilled at the prospect of potentially joining the team.
Recalling the WNBA Draft lottery night, Clark revealed that she couldn’t watch the event live due to a game Iowa had scheduled. Nevertheless, she couldn’t help but feel excited when she learned that Indiana had clinched the top pick.
With her collegiate career marked by consecutive appearances in the national championship game, Clark emphasized her readiness for a new challenge. As a native of West Des Moines, Iowa, the opportunity to continue playing in the Midwest for the Fever was a dream scenario for her.
Joining forces with former Indiana Hoosier Grace Berger, who was drafted by the Fever in 2023, and Aaliyah Boston, the top pick from the same draft class, Clark sees immense potential in the talent surrounding her. She highlighted the supportive basketball culture in Indiana and the Fever’s commitment to excellence as factors that solidified her decision to begin her professional career with the team.
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