The buzz around women's basketball is reaching a fever pitch, and the Washington Mystics are feeling the heat. In a move that speaks volumes about the skyrocketing popularity of the game, the Mystics have shifted their upcoming battle against the Indiana Fever, starring the WNBA's number one draft pick Caitlin Clark to the larger Capital One Arena, the team announced Friday.
With the June 7 matchup originally set for the Mystics' regular haunt, the 4,200-seater Entertainment & Sports Arena, tickets vanished faster than you can say 'full-court press', a testament to the draw of not only Clark but also the Mystics' first-round pick Aaliyah Edwards. “There has been unprecedented demand for the WNBA this season due in large part to the talent of incoming players from this season’s collegiate draft, including Washington’s first-round pick Aaliyah Edwards,” the Mystics said in a release, as seats were snatched up in a hot minute.
The switch to Capital One Arena, no stranger to major sporting events as it also hosts the Washington Wizards of the NBA and the NHL's Washington Capitals, comes off the back of a booming 2023 season for the Mystics which saw them post record attendance numbers. As for Caitlin Clark, her ability to pull in the crowds is undisputed. Her dominance during the women's March Madness final drove viewing numbers through the roof to 18.7 million, making it the most-watched basketball game stateside in five years. Additionally, the Fever's draft of Clark pulled in 2.45 million viewers on ESPN, a record for its coverage of the WNBA draft and up 328 percent from last year, according to SportsPro Media.
Meanwhile, fans like Kelsey Deering highlight the growing allure of the women's game, “I feel like the sport is definitely gaining the attention it deserves and giving recognition to female athletes that they really deserve,” she told DC News Now. Others, such as self-proclaimed Mystics supporter Jerry Walter, are equally excited,“I think women’s athletics is very fun to watch and impressive and just enjoy it as a whole,” he revealed.
For loyal season ticket holders worried about their court-side experience, fret not. The Mystics have assured that these basketball aficionados will be relocated to similar seats in the new venue with seating assignments to be settled and sent out by Friday.
