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Doug Greenberg, ESPN
Caitlin Clark stood at the free throw line inside Washington, D.C.’s Capital One Arena about a minute before halftime on the final day of the WNBA season. The eyes of 20,711 spectators, a new league record, were fixed on her as she knocked down both free throws.
Many of those in attendance were waiting with baited breath — not only because they had the chance to witness arguably the most influential women’s basketball player in a generation, but also because it’s likely that some in attendance had bet on her.
Clark player props and Indiana Fever wagers, as they had been all season, were likely one of the hottest tickets at one of the nation’s only in-arena sportsbooks and on mobile devices, defying the hometown Washington Mystics, who ultimately won the contest 92-91.
Clark’s dominance in the WNBA, both on and off the court this season, benefited the league in every facet, from viewership to merchandise sales, and that “rising tide” mentality extended to sports betting. Penn Entertainment (the operator behind ESPN BET) reported that it saw a more than 150% increase in WNBA handle year over year, while BetMGM reported a 108% increase in WNBA betting for 2024. ESPN BET set new bet and handle records for the…
