Caitlin Clark and Fever Top Dream in front of a record crowd in Atlanta

The Indiana Fever, playing in front of another capacity crowd on the road, won its fourth straight game Friday, something the franchise hasn’t done since 2015.

Indiana defeated Atlanta 91-79 in front of 17,575 fans at State Farm Arena, setting a dream record for single-game home attendance. The previous record was 11,609 for the franchise’s inaugural game against the Detroit Shock in 2008 at the same venue, then known as Philips Arena.

The Dream’s usual home, Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia, where they have played since 2021, has a capacity of 3,500. But high demand for tickets to Friday’s game against visiting Fever team and No. 1 draft pick Caitlin Clark prompted a move to a larger facility in downtown Atlanta, home of the NBA’s Hawks. The Dream’s other home game this season against the Fever on August 26 will also be played at State Farm Arena.

Indiana was led by the four lottery picks in its starting lineup. NaLyssa Smith (No. 2 in 2022) had 21 points and nine rebounds, while her compatriot Aliyah Boston (No. 1 in 2023) had 10 and 10. Kelsey Mitchell (No. 2 in 2018) had 18 points , and Clark (No. 2 in 2022) had 21 points and nine rebounds. No. 1 in 2024) had 16 points and seven assists.

The fever exceeded 50% (56.9) for the third consecutive game.

Clark’s impact on crowds and ticket prices has been widely documented since his college career at Iowa. During his senior season, all of the Hawkeyes’ home games and most of their road games were sold out. Clark and The Fever were also a big draw in the WNBA.

“To me, that kind of environment isn’t that different (from college),” Clark said Friday. “Yeah, I’m putting on a different jersey. But these environments are something I’m becoming… I don’t want to say ‘used to it’… But you’re used to playing. And it’s fun.

“I’ve never played Atlanta before. It’s fun going to all these new cities as a rookie and being able to play in front of their crowds. Obviously there’s a lot of Fever gear there. We Could just feel the energy in the building, and that’s what makes basketball so much fun.

Things have been a lot more fun for the Fever lately. After starting the season 1-8, Indiana is now 7-10. The last time the Fever won four games in a row was in August of the 2015 season, the last time Indiana made it to the WNBA Finals.

The Fever haven’t made the playoffs since 2016, which was franchise star Tamika Catchings’ final season in the WNBA. Getting back to the playoffs is Fever’s goal. Even though they’re not yet halfway through the 40-game season, they now sit in eighth place in the playoffs.

Friday’s game was a challenge for the Dream (6-8), as they were without 2022 No. 1 overall pick and Rookie of the Year Rhyne Howard, out indefinitely with a sprained ankle. the ankle suffered on Wednesday. Still, it was a big night for the franchise.

Tickets will also be expensive for Indiana’s next game, which is Sunday at Chicago’s Wintrust Arena against the Sky (3 p.m. ET, ESPN). According to Vivid Seats, tickets for this game cost an average of $351, the highest amount ever for a WNBA game (since 2015).

The five highest average tickets sold in the WNBA, according to Vivid Seats, are for the Fever’s upcoming games, starting with Sunday’s contest that will feature Clark and the Sky’s Angel Reese, another high-profile recruit, who has played college basketball at LSU.

The two met in the 2023 national championship game and the 2024 Elite Eight. Their teams have played twice so far in the WNBA, with the Fever winning both, June 1 and Sunday in Indiana.

“I saw the ticket prices…the only thing is I’m surprised we’re not at the United Center. I thought it would have been really good for the game and for all the basketball fans -women’s ball in Chicago. Maybe there’s a conflict of some kind that I don’t know about…. (laughing) Obviously, that’s a little above my pay grade.

Caitlin Clark at Sunday’s Fever-Sky game in Chicago, for which ticket prices average $351.

That said, Clark and The Fever don’t really view the games with Chicago as a “rivalry,” even though they know others are.

“For us, it’s just a basketball game,” Clark said Friday. “But if (the rivalry talk) is going to help move the game forward, it’s absolutely incredible. That’s what it should be.

“I saw the ticket prices… The only thing is I’m surprised we’re not at the United Center. I thought it would have been really good for the game and for all the basketball fans -women’s ball in Chicago Maybe there is a conflict of some kind that I don’t know about.

Then she laughed and added, “Obviously that’s a little above my pay grade.”

The United Center offers reserved concerts on Friday and Saturday (Justin Timberlake) and Sunday (Russ) evenings.

Wintrust Arena has just over 10,000 fans. United Center, home of the Bulls and Blackhawks, holds nearly 21,000 for NBA and NHL games. The Sky and Bulls are unaffiliated, as are the NBA’s Fever and Pacers.