NaLyssa Smith celebrates Caitlin Clark's impact after Fever plays in front of record breaking 20,000-plus crowd

Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever's road game against the Washington Mystics on Thursday attracted a record-breaking crowd at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., with over 20,000 fans in attendance. A major factor behind the historic turnout was the presence of rookie sensation Caitlin Clark, who has drawn huge crowds into arenas across the country.

A total of 20,711 fans witnessed the 22-year-old showcase her exceptional skills on the court. Throughout the season, Fever games have consistently set attendance records, culminating in their final regular-season game, where the franchise set a WNBA single-game attendance record.

Indiana forward NaLyssa Smith reflected on the experience of playing in front of sell-out crowds consistently while also acknowledging the impact of Clark in boosting the sport's popularity.

"It's huge," Smith said. "This is what we've been hoping for forever. So you know it's fun to play in these games, you never get used to it; just always showing up and playing in front of sold-out crowds.

"And I mean, shoutout Caitlin. Shoutout Caitlin. We appreciate her," she added.

Despite playing only 19:47 minutes and sitting out the entire fourth quarter, Caitlin Clark gave the sell-out crowd plenty to cheer for. The rookie wasn’t rested for the entirety of the game, ensuring that fans got their money's worth in what was otherwise an inconsequential matchup.

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Caitlin Clark's impact on soaring attendance

The WNBA's popularity has surged since the arrival of rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. Clark, in particular, has been instrumental in boosting both viewership and in-game attendance throughout the season.

For example, the Fever's home games set two major attendance records this season. A total of 340,715 fans attended games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the franchise's home arena in Indianapolis, with an average of 17,036 fans per game.

Kelsey Mitchell has recognized the attention Clark has brought, not only to the league but also to her teammates, including herself.

"I think the reality of it is that, I don't think people wouldn't know without C² (Caitlin Clark), so shout out to Caitlin, that's just the reality," Mitchell said before the game on Thursday.

"I think she's done an unbelievable job of bringing her own fans and people who support her. For me, I kind of laugh at it and embrace it at the same time because I always kind of flew under the radar," she added.

Clark is gearing up to lead the Fever's charge in the playoffs. Indiana face off against the Connecticut Sun in Game 1 of the first round on Sunday.