In response to overwhelming demand sparked by the selection of Caitlin Clark by the Indiana Fever, the Washington Mystics have announced a venue change for their June 7 matchup. Originally scheduled at the 4,200-seat Entertainment & Sports Arena, the game will now take place at the 20,000-seat Capital One Arena, home to the NBA’s Wizards and NHL’s Capitals.
The decision comes in the wake of the Fever’s historic draft choice of Clark, the all-time NCAA scoring leader, as the No. 1 overall pick. The Mystics cited “unprecedented demand” for tickets following Monday night’s WNBA Draft as the primary reason for the venue change.
Following suit, the Las Vegas Aces also adjusted their venue plans, relocating their July 2 game against Indiana from the Michelob Ultra Arena (12,000 seats) to the T-Mobile Arena (18,000 seats).
These venue shifts mirror recent trends in other sports leagues, such as MLS, where high-profile player acquisitions have prompted adjustments in venue sizes. Notably, the arrival of soccer superstar Lionel Messi at Inter Miami last season led to similar shifts to accommodate heightened fan interest.
