Allison Barber reveals an ‘amazing’ anecdote about Caitlin Clark.
The Indiana Fever’s season came to an abrupt end after losing to the Connecticut Sun in the first round of the 2024 WNBA playoffs. However, the Fever’s future remains bright.
With Fever guard Caitlin Clark, the league’s Rookie of the Year, more than living up to the hype as the No. 1 overall pick, and the team’s exponential improvement as the season progressed, Indiana should be a force next season.
While the Fever’s roster may undergo changes in free agency, the organization’s front office will look different as well. Allison Barber, who’s served as the Fever’s President and COO since 2019, announced she was stepping down at the end of the season.
Before the end of her tenure, Barber spoke at the Economic Club of Washington D.C.’s event, during which she revealed a little known fact about the Fever’s rookie phenom.
Before the end of her tenure, Barber spoke at the Economic Club of Washington D.C.’s event, during which she revealed a little known fact about the Fever’s rookie phenom.
While the “Caitlin Clark effect” was a major topic of conversation throughout the season, as her presence fueled record-breaking attendance numbers, even at away games, no one knew the 22-year-old tried to get her opponents to financially benefit from the sold-out crowds.
“Since this off the record, here’s all you need to know about Caitlin Clark,” Barber told the Club on September 19. “When we would go to away games, they would always sold out. Unbelievable. So, Atlanta [Dream] would normally have 3,000 or 4,000 people, now they have 17,000 people,” which didn’t even include standing room tickets.
“After a few away games, Caitlin asked the WNBA if they would pay spot bonuses to the away team players,” Barber continued. “She said, ‘We’re making all this new revenue, and I would like the away team to benefit from that. Could they get a spot bonus?’ So, that’s the heart of Caitlin Clark. That’s a classy, amazing person.”
While the WNBA ultimately said no due to the collective bargaining agreement, Clark tried.
