LAS VEGAS — Aces coach Becky Hammon stated when workforce officers requested her about shifting Tuesday’s recreation with the Indiana Fever to the bigger T-Cellular Area, her solely query was, “Can we generate income?”
Instructed they might, Hammon stated, “Transfer it!” The consequence was a sellout crowd of 20,366, the fifth largest in WNBA historical past and largest regular-season crowd at a WNBA recreation since 1999. They watched the Aces — led by a season-high 34 factors from Kelsey Plum — defeat the Fever 88-69.
Indiana has grow to be accustomed to huge crowds at house and on the street this season, as the recognition of No. 1 draft decide Caitlin Clark has helped the Fever drive up their attendance. Sunday’s Fever-Mercury recreation in Phoenix drew 17,071 followers, the biggest crowd at Footprint Heart since 1997.
There have been eight video games in WNBA historical past to attract a minimum of 20,000 followers. 4 got here within the opening years of the league, from 1997 to ’99. There have been two from 2000 to ’23. Two have come this yr, each Fever video games — Tuesday night time and June 7 at Washington, when the Fever and Mystics drew 20,333.
The Aces sometimes play at Michelob Extremely Area at Mandalay Bay, which holds about 12,000. They’ve had a few video games in earlier seasons at T-Cellular Area, house of the NHL’s Golden Knights, and could have one other for the Sept. 3 matchup with the Chicago Sky and widespread rookie Angel Reese.
“Truthfully, it was in all probability among the finest we have had from like an vitality standpoint,” Clark, who had 13 factors, 6 rebounds and 11 assists, stated of the group. “The quantity of individuals right here simply watching warmups, I really feel like that is after I can form of get a gauge on how good the group is or how excited they’re concerning the recreation.
“Clearly, they’re all the time excited, however tonight it simply felt very totally different. There have been simply mobs of individuals watching us heat up. It is tremendous cool to be part of. I hope everyone loved it. And in addition, I hope everyone noticed how good the Aces are. Their followers present up and are unimaginable.”
Las Vegas, 11-6 and on a five-game profitable streak, is the two-time defending WNBA champion and the workforce that others just like the Fever aspire to emulate. The Aces have 4 gamers on the U.S. ladies’s 5-on-5 Olympic workforce: A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Grey, Plum and Jackie Younger.
Wilson proper now tasks because the clear front-runner for WNBA MVP; she had 28 factors, 9 rebounds and 5 blocked pictures Tuesday. Younger had 15 factors and 10 assists. And Plum, along with her season-high 34, turned the fourth participant in franchise historical past to hit the three,000-point mark. That group additionally contains Wilson and Hammon, who performed for the franchise when it was nonetheless in San Antonio.
“When you may shoot it like she will be able to shoot it, and he or she’s quick — that is the toughest factor in basketball,” Hammon stated of Plum. “To protect a live-ball closeout with any individual who can shoot, drive, move and shut out within the paint.”
Plum was one among 5 No. 1 draft picks taking part in Tuesday, together with teammates Wilson and Younger and Indiana’s Clark and Aliyah Boston.
Tuesday was additionally when the Crew WNBA All-Star roster was introduced, and it contains Fever gamers Clark, Boston and Kelsey Mitchell.
They are going to face Crew USA, which has the 4 Aces gamers, within the All-Star Recreation on July 20 in Phoenix.
The Aces have been one of many best-drawing groups within the WNBA because the franchise moved to Las Vegas in 2018. They’ve offered out the rest of their house video games.
Tuesday night time, although, did really feel further particular.
“There have been a few occasions you could possibly really feel the constructing was about to erupt,” Hammon stated. “There’s quite a lot of eyes on us now. Vegas has been exhibiting up, although, for the previous few years, so I am not shocked. It was fairly loud in there. The extra followers the merrier, whoever you are coming to observe.”