Caitlin Clark Pushes WNBA to Move Future Sky–Fever Game to United Center

Tom Dierberger | Jun 22, 2024

Indiana star Caitlin Clark dribbles around Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter during the Fever's 91-83 win on June 16. / Jacob Musselman/ For IndyStar / USA

The Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky have formed a fun rivalry in the early portion of the 2024 WNBA season as rookie phenoms Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese launch their professional careers.

Indiana and Chicago are slated to match up for a third time this season Sunday at Wintrust Arena—the Sky's home court which holds just over 10,000 fans. But Fever star Clark would love to see the matchup one day played at the much larger United Center, the arena where the Chicago Bulls play that has a capacity of nearly 21,000 fans.

"I'm surprised we're not playing at the United Center," Clark told reporters Friday night following the Fever's 91–79 win over the Atlanta Dream. "I thought that would've been really good for the game and really good for all the women's basketball fans in Chicago. Maybe there's a conflict of some sort that I don't know about—obviously that's a little above my pay grade."

The WNBA marketing major in her is too strong, I've never seen a mind like this at 22. Yes, she put the pressure on Chicago to next time book the United Center, so more fans can experience a WNBA game. pic.twitter.com/GD72LsVsxJ

— Mily (@DayDreamThis) June 22, 2024

The Fever and Sky first clashed June 1 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where 17,274 fans watched Indiana win 71–70 in a nail-biter. Indiana beat the Sky again June 16 by a score of 91–83, once again in front of a sellout crowd of 17,274 in Indianapolis.

But now as the season series heads to Chicago for the first time, only 10,000 or so fans will be able to watch the game at Wintrust Arena. Tickets for the game are reaching record-high prices,averaging $358 per ticket on Vivid Seats as of Friday to take in the budding rivalry.

Or is it a rivalry?

"I'm pretty sure the only people that view this as a rivalry is all of you [media]," Clark said. "For us, it's just a game of basketball. That's what it is. If it's going to help the game move forward, that's amazing, That's what it should be.

After Sunday's battle, Indiana and Chicago will clash one final time during the regular season on Aug. 30. That game is currently scheduled to tip off at Wintrust Arena—unless the WNBA hears Clark's suggestion and moves it to United Center.