May 4, 2025, is about to turn Iowa into a pressure cooker of basketball frenzy as the Indiana Fever storms into Carver-Hawkeye Arena for Caitlin Clark’s long-awaited return. With Brazil’s national team on deck and heavy hitters like DeWanna Bonner and Kelsey Mitchell adding extra fuel, the matchup promises fireworks on the floor. But this isn’t just a fever pitch—it’s a full-on heatwave of hype, history, and high expectations. And it’s not all coming from the scoreboard.

The arena is set to pack in 15,000 fans, resale tickets are sizzling at an average of $440, and Clark’s homecoming could generate a staggering $6.6 million. Yet, amid the buzz and dollar signs, there’s one detail that could crank things up to uncomfortable levels. The court might showcase cool, clinical execution, but the atmosphere will be anything but chill.

As Clark herself put it, “I warned everybody, there’s not air conditioning in Carver-Hawkeye. Hopefully, it stays a little cool in there. I don’t know what the humidity is looking like. We’ll see how it goes, might be a little toasty.” In other words, bring the energy—but maybe also a handheld fan. This isn’t just a basketball game, it’s a high-octane homecoming with a side of sweat, where the only thing hotter than the crowd’s cheers might be the air itself.

And it’s not just any homecoming—it’s the first game Caitlin Clark will play back at Carver-Hawkeye since leaving for the WNBA. The NCAA’s all-time leading scorer—and undisputed queen of Hawkeye hoops—Clark powered Iowa to back-to-back NCAA title games in 2023 and 2024, rewriting program history and becoming the Cinderella assassin who shattered dynasties. She ended South Carolina’s perfect run in 2023 and silenced UConn’s storied legacy in 2024. Then, with the nation watching, she went No. 1 in the 2024 WNBA Draft and wasted no time snatching Rookie of the Year.

The “Clark Effect” is rattling ticket markets across the league. Indiana Fever’s 2025 away games now average $272, up from $171 last year. Home games? Doubled—$92 to $197. Victory Live clocked a 114% spike in home game prices and a 59% spike away. This isn’t just a homecoming—it’s a headline event, a revenue juggernaut, and a reminder that Caitlin Clark doesn’t just play the game. She changes it.

Caitlin Clark’s Homecoming Is Changing the Game—Literally

Wanna see how? Look no further than the fact that for the first time in WNBA history, a preseason exhibition game—Indiana Fever vs. Brazil’s national team—will be nationally televised on ESPN. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. CT on Sunday, May 5 at a sold-out Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Clark’s college cathedral. If there’s a Game 7 in the NBA playoffs, the game will shift to ESPN2. You can also stream it live on FUBO (free trial available).

This isn’t just another game—it’s history in motion. Tickets disappeared in 45 minutes, with resale prices soaring past $2,000. Fever president Kelly Krauskopf summed it up: “Countless Hawkeye fans have become Fever fans… That’s what will make this preseason matchup so special.”

For years, fans begged networks to air preseason games. Last season’s Sky–Lynx exhibition, streamed from a fan’s phone, pulled 2 million views—and that was without Caitlin Clark. Now? Business isn’t just good enough. But Clark’s gravity is so strong it’s pulling the entire sport into primetime. The Fever will feature in 41 nationally broadcast/streamed games this season—more than any team. That includes 10 on ABC/ESPN and eight on ION.

This Sunday, history tips off. Don’t blink.