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Indiana Fever Development Emerges Because of Caitlin Clark

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paolo Songco | Last updated Mar 27, 2026 8:34 AM ET

The Caitlin Clark era is in full swing, and opposing teams are already taking notice. Building off a historic rookie campaign, the Indiana Fever guard blossomed into a full-blown superstar in her second season.

She averaged 16.5 points and 8.8 assists in just 13 games as the Fever went 24-20, a franchise-best record. Indiana reached the semifinals before falling to the Las Vegas Aces.

Clark then returned from injury and picked up right where she left off at the FIBA qualifying tournament. The 24-year-old averaged 11.6 points and a tournament-best 6.4 assists as Team USA went 5-0. She took home MVP honors in Puerto Rico.

Now, WNBA teams are preparing more than just their defenses for when Clark arrives in their building.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark warms up before a WNBA game.Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

The 2026 WNBA season tips off on May 8. A tentative schedule shows all but five of Indiana's road games will be played in an NBA arena. This development is, without a doubt, brought about by Clark's immense draw.

The Atlanta Dream is the latest team leaning in. The franchise recently announced on X that it will host select games at State Farm Arena, home of the Atlanta Hawks. Two of those matchups feature Clark and the Fever, on June 20 and Aug. 16, respectively.

"JUST ANNOUNCED the @AtlantaDream is bringing 5 can't-miss games to State Farm Arena in 2026. Secure your spot in the building. Sign up for presale to get first access to tickets, 24 hours before the public," the post read.

JUST ANNOUNCED the @AtlantaDream is bringing 5 can’t-miss games to State Farm Arena in 2026.

Secure your spot in the building. Sign up for presale to get first access to tickets, 24 hours before the public ➡️ https://t.co/eQ1TW3pDbf pic.twitter.com/0Eor8VNYOn
— State Farm Arena (@StateFarmArena) March 25, 2026

The move is no surprise. Clark's presence draws massive crowds on the road. In 2025, Fever games averaged 1.26 million viewers per game on national TV, up 7% even with Clark playing just 13 games. Sold-out arenas have also been the norm for Fever games on the road.

Atlanta is not alone in making the adjustment. The Chicago Sky , Dallas Wings, Las Vegas Aces and Toronto Tempo have followed the same trend for the upcoming season. These teams have also moved Fever games to NBA venues.

This speaks to how Clark's magnetism extends well beyond the court. Franchises across the league are rethinking their entire game day experience around her arrival.

That level of star power is exactly what the league needed.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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