Caitlin Clark returns to Iowa as Indiana Fever host preseason game

The Indiana Fever will face Brazil’s national team at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in May.

Indiana Fever point guard Caitlin Clark watches a college basketball game between the St. John's Red Storm and the Butler Bulldogs at Carnesecca Arena on January 4, 2025, in Queens, New York City. Photo by Porter Binks/Getty Images

By Randy Ahmad and Hayu Andini

Caitlin Clark is set to make her highly anticipated return to Iowa, this time as a professional basketball player. The Indiana Fever will face the Brazilian National Team in a preseason exhibition game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on May 4, the team announced Thursday.

The game will serve as a homecoming for Clark, who became one of the most celebrated players in NCAA history during her time with the Iowa Hawkeyes. It will also feature Fever forward Damiris Dantas, a Brazilian native who previously played for her country’s national team in the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics.

“We couldn’t be more excited to play at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, and we know Iowa fans will deliver an unforgettable homecoming for Caitlin,” Kelly Krauskopf, the Fever’s president of basketball operations, said in a statement. “Countless Hawkeye fans have become Fever fans, and we consider them family. That’s what will make this preseason matchup so special for us.”

Clark’s legendary career at Iowa

Clark’s return to Iowa City comes just weeks after the university announced it would retire her No. 22 jersey, cementing her legacy as one of the most dominant players in college basketball history. Over four seasons, Clark rewrote the record books, finishing her career with 3,951 points—the most in NCAA Division I history for both men’s and women’s basketball. She also set the single-season record for three-pointers, led Iowa to two national championship appearances, and won multiple National Player of the Year awards.

Her impact extended beyond the court, elevating Iowa women’s basketball to unprecedented popularity. The Hawkeyes sold out their entire home schedule for the last two seasons, with Clark’s presence turning Carver-Hawkeye Arena into a must-visit venue for women’s basketball fans.

The Fever’s preseason game at Iowa could generate similar enthusiasm. Clark’s final home game with the Hawkeyes was the Crossover at Kinnick exhibition against DePaul on October 15, 2023. That event set the all-time attendance record for a women’s basketball game, drawing 55,646 fans to Kinnick Stadium.

The WNBA’s expansion of preseason games

The Indiana Fever’s decision to hold a preseason game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena is part of a broader trend in the WNBA, where teams have begun taking games beyond their home cities. In 2024, the Las Vegas Aces played the Puerto Rico National Team at South Carolina, the alma mater of Aces superstar A’ja Wilson. That exhibition drew more than 13,500 fans, prompting calls for similar games in the future.

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has indicated that the league is exploring ways to expand its reach both domestically and internationally. The WNBA has already hosted preseason games in Canada and held a regular-season contest in Boston. Minnesota and Chicago played an exhibition in Toronto in 2023, while Los Angeles and Seattle faced off in Edmonton in 2024. The Connecticut Sun also hosted a regular-season game against the Los Angeles Sparks in Boston, with another Boston-based game scheduled for the Fever this season.

“Do you do neutral sites in the U.S. to test out expansion markets?” Engelbert said during the 2024 WNBA All-Star Weekend. “That’s another option to do either preseason games or regular-season games.”

Clark’s return to Iowa for a WNBA preseason game aligns with that strategy, allowing the league to capitalize on her massive popularity while expanding its footprint.

Carver-Hawkeye Arena has a history of attracting high-profile basketball events. In 1990, Iowa hosted an NBA preseason game featuring Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls, just a year after the franchise drafted former Hawkeye standout B.J. Armstrong in the first round.

While the Fever’s preseason matchup will be an exhibition game, it is expected to draw significant local and national attention. Clark’s presence alone has elevated viewership and attendance figures at every level, making this event one of the most anticipated games of the WNBA’s preseason.

Clark’s impact on the Indiana Fever and women’s basketball

Clark’s transition to the WNBA has been closely followed by fans and analysts alike. As the projected No. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, she is expected to bring a new level of excitement and visibility to the Indiana Fever, a franchise looking to return to playoff contention.

Her star power has already had an impact, with Fever ticket sales seeing a surge after her commitment to enter the WNBA Draft. Clark’s ability to draw record-breaking crowds and television audiences at Iowa is expected to carry over to the professional level, making her one of the most marketable players in the league.

For Iowa fans, Clark’s return represents a rare opportunity to see one of the state’s greatest athletes compete on her former home court, now as a professional. The Fever’s matchup against the Brazilian National Team will be more than just a preseason game—it will be a celebration of Clark’s legacy and the growing popularity of women’s basketball.

As the WNBA continues to expand its presence, games like this serve as a testament to the league’s increasing influence and the star power of players like Caitlin Clark.