Travonne Edwards claims Caitlin Clark effect caused massive sales surge and prompted investigation: "They got audited"

Just how powerful is the Caitlin Clark effect? According to Indiana-based journalist Travonne Edwards, Clark’s skyrocketing popularity has driven Fever merchandise sales so high that the team store was audited due to the volume.

On the latest episode of “The Right Time with Bomani Jones” podcast, Edwards was asked what it’s like living in Indiana as Clark fever takes over.

He claimed the Fever team store was audited after an overwhelming surge in sales, all tied to Clark’s soaring fan base.

Expand Tweet

“I'm going to just put this in context — the quota has been reached for team sales in the store to a point where they got audited,” Edwards said. “(They sold) so much (gear).”

He added that the “Caitlin Clark effect” has brought a college-like energy to Fever home games, with attendance at Gainbridge Fieldhouse now eclipsing even the Pacers, their NBA counterparts.

“You can't get a seat,” Edwards said. “You need giveaways. It's been sold out since it was announced.

“You can't get in the building. The Pacers only fill it up like that when it's playoffs. You can't get in the building. It's the hottest ticket. It's an experience, bro. It's the closest thing to college.”

The WNBA has seen a boom in attendance overall, with 2024 bringing the league’s highest turnout in 22 years, per the Associated Press. The Fever alone shattered records, drawing an average of 17,035 fans per home game — a league best.

Caitlin Clark’s injury further underscores her influence as ticket prices drop

Caitlin Clark recently suffered a left quad strain and is expected to be out until mid-June. Her absence has already made waves, including a steep dip in ticket sales for the much-anticipated June 7 showdown with Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky.

Per Front Office Sports, which cited data from TickPick, ticket prices for that matchup plummeted 71% — falling from $86 to just $25 — since Clark was ruled out.

Expand Tweet

That game had been moved to the United Center, the 21,000-seat home of the Chicago Bulls, to accommodate massive demand.

On Tuesday, Fever head coach Stephanie White said there’s no update yet on Clark’s return. The team has gone 1-2 in the games she’s missed.

About the author

John Ezekiel Hirro is an experienced NBA and WNBA journalist at Sportskeeda, with over five years in the field as a news correspondent, sports writer, and Editor-in-Chief. His sports writing career began in high school, where he garnered numerous accolades, including being named the national sports writing champion in 2016.

He earned his journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines in 2024 and served as the Editor-in-Chief of The Varsitarian, the university's official student publication, for four years—the longest in history.

A passionate basketball enthusiast, he became a fan of the OKC Thunder during the Russ-KD-Harden era. Russell Westbrook, his all-time favorite athlete, impressed him by stepping up as MVP after Kevin Durant's departure. His current favorite players include Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, who he believes are the future of the OKC franchise.

He excels in game analysis and rapid news story turnaround, drawing inspiration from the journalistic styles of Woj and Shams. He emphasizes thorough research to ensure accuracy in his articles. One of his most memorable moments is Russell Westbrook breaking Oscar Robertson's record with his 42nd triple-double and securing a 106-105 victory over the Denver Nuggets with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer. Outside of writing, he enjoys listening to music and creating Spotify playlists.

Know More

Edited by John Ezekiel Hirro