‘I’m afraid of the crowd effect’: Caitlin Clark’s widespread popularity in Fever Games and WNBA shocks DeWanna Bonner. Reporter Christine Brennan reveals a shocking truth globally | HO~

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – The Indiana Fever’s Gainbridge Fieldhouse has always been a place of competition, hope, and, for many years, modest crowds. But that all changed with the arrival of Caitlin Clark, the rookie sensation whose star power has not only transformed the Fever franchise but sent shockwaves through the entire WNBA. The phenomenon is so powerful that even seasoned veterans like DeWanna Bonner, a two-time WNBA champion and one of the league’s most respected voices, have been left stunned—and, as Bonner herself admits, a little unnerved.

This is the story of how one young player’s unprecedented popularity is reshaping the league, challenging the status quo, and, according to leading sports journalist Christine Brennan, exposing truths about women’s basketball that reach far beyond Indiana or even the United States.

A Moment That Changed Everything

It was May 17, 2025, the Indiana Fever’s home opener against the Chicago Sky. The air was thick with anticipation, the stands packed well before tip-off. For Bonner, who had spent her career playing in front of crowds that rarely filled the lower bowl, the scene was surreal.

“The crowd kind of shocked me a little bit,” Bonner, 37, admitted after the game. “This is my first time playing in this kind of environment.”

That honest admission, shared by USA Today’s Christine Brennan on X (formerly Twitter), became a flashpoint in the ongoing conversation about Clark’s effect on the WNBA. Brennan, a veteran reporter, didn’t mince words: “The interest in Caitlin Clark’s team is like that of a men’s major-league team.”

For Bonner, who had joined the Fever hoping to mentor the next generation, the Caitlin Clark effect was both inspiring and intimidating. And, as sources close to the team reveal, it may have played a significant role in her decision to step away from Indiana after a mysterious five-game absence.

The Clark Effect: More Than Just Hype

Caitlin Clark arrived in the WNBA with a reputation that preceded her. At Iowa, she was a generational talent, shattering NCAA records and drawing sellout crowds wherever she played. Her transition to the professional ranks was accompanied by a media frenzy rarely seen in women’s sports.

But what sets Clark apart isn’t just her skill on the court. It’s the way she draws people in—casual fans, college hoops diehards, even those who’ve never watched a WNBA game before. Her games are events, her highlights viral sensations, her jersey a must-have item from Des Moines to Dubai.

The Fever’s home opener was just the beginning. Every game Clark played became a spectacle. Ticket sales soared, TV ratings spiked, and social media engagement reached unprecedented levels. The Fever’s road games were suddenly the hottest ticket in town, with opposing arenas filling up just to catch a glimpse of Clark in action.

The numbers are staggering. According to league data, average attendance at Fever games doubled in Clark’s first month. Merchandise sales broke records. National broadcasts featuring the Fever drew ratings rivaling those of NBA games. In the words of one league executive, “This is the kind of impact we’ve dreamed about for decades.”

A League Transformed—And Tension Behind the Scenes

But with great attention comes great scrutiny—and, for some, great discomfort. For DeWanna Bonner, the shift was seismic. After years of being a respected veteran, she suddenly found herself in the shadow of a rookie whose every move was dissected by fans, media, and league officials alike.

Sources within the Fever organization say Bonner’s departure was not solely due to “personal reasons,” as initially reported. Instead, it was the result of a complex mix of factors, chief among them the overwhelming pressure and attention brought on by Clark’s presence.

“She wasn’t just a player anymore—she was part of the Caitlin Clark show,” said one anonymous teammate. “The environment changed overnight. Every game felt like a national event. For some of us, it was energizing. For others, it was exhausting.”

Bonner herself acknowledged the shift. “She does a lot for this team, and we understand that,” Bonner said in April. “I think everybody here just wants to make her life easier, and she wants to make everybody else’s life easier. I’m ready to put it all together. Our relationship is going great, I love C.”

Yet, just weeks later, Bonner was gone—her five-game absence followed by a quiet exit and a statement wishing the Fever “great success as they continue to build around this dynamic group of young players.”

The Brawl Heard ‘Round the World

Clark’s impact hasn’t been limited to ticket sales and TV ratings. Her presence has raised the stakes on the court, too. During the high-profile opener against the Chicago Sky, a heated third-quarter altercation between Clark and Angel Reese escalated into a brawl that made headlines nationwide.

The league launched an investigation into alleged hateful comments directed at Reese, but ultimately dropped the case due to lack of evidence. Still, the incident underscored the intensity—and the microscope—under which Clark and her teammates now play.

“Everything we do is magnified,” said one Fever player. “It’s not just basketball anymore. It’s a spectacle.”

A Global Phenomenon

What’s perhaps most remarkable about the Caitlin Clark effect is how far it extends. Christine Brennan, whose reporting has chronicled the evolution of women’s sports for decades, sees something unprecedented.

“This isn’t just an Indiana story, or even a WNBA story,” Brennan said in a recent interview. “This is a global story. I get messages from colleagues in Europe, Asia, Australia—they all want to know about Caitlin Clark. She’s become the face of women’s basketball worldwide.”

That global reach has brought both opportunity and challenge. The league is scrambling to capitalize on the attention, while players and coaches navigate a new reality where every game is a potential headline.

Injury and Uncertainty: The Fever’s Next Test

The fever pitch around Clark hit a new note of anxiety when head coach Stephanie White announced before a recent game against the LA Sparks that Clark would be sidelined with a groin injury.

“I think anytime you lose a player like Caitlin that’s going to be out of the lineup, you definitely have to adjust things,” White told reporters. “Fortunately for us, the timing of having Aari (McDonald) back helps with that because she has been in the system. She does understand what we want out of the system. And the last time she was here, I think Caitlin was out as well. For us, having that familiarity is really good.”

The news sent a ripple of concern through the Fever fan base and the wider basketball world. For a team—and a league—so dependent on Clark’s star power, her absence represents both a challenge and a test of resilience.

A New Era, and Unanswered Questions

As the Fever prepare to face the Dallas Wings without their superstar, the questions linger: Can the team sustain its momentum without Clark on the court? Will the league’s newfound attention endure, or is it a passing phenomenon tied to one transcendent talent?

For DeWanna Bonner, the answers may not matter. Her departure is a reminder that change, even when it brings progress, comes at a cost.

“I wish the Fever great success as they continue to build around this dynamic group of young players,” Bonner said in her farewell statement.

But for the WNBA, the Caitlin Clark era is only just beginning. The crowds are bigger, the stakes are higher, and the world is watching.