Fans inside of Crypto.com Arena made it loud and clear who they were supporting during the Los Angeles Sparks' home contest against the winless Indiana Fever .
In the highly anticipated battle between Caitlin Clark , the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, and Cameron Brink , the player who went directly after Clark, the fans in Los Angeles made their voices known that more than a handful of them were there to see the former Iowa star. As the Fever's lineup was announced, many names garnered scattered applause.
Then, it was former No. 1 overall pick Aliyah Boston's turn, and as her name was called, the Fever fans showered her with a cacophony of applause. After Boston was Clark, and the crowd on hand showed their love for her exploits.
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As she got off the bench to meet her fellow starters on the court, Indiana's fans greeted her with great applause that seemingly felt like it could move mountains. The crowd's noise lasted longer than most and it was only after Los Angeles' starters were announced that the noise quieted down.
For the Sparks, four of the starters received relatively loud ovations, similar to the Fever's starters, sans Boston and Clark. However, when Brink was announced, the crowd at Crypto.com Arena erupted in a joyful symphony, showering their star with love.
Once the game began, the crowd in the stands was locked in a battle akin to Clark and Brink's battle on the court. Whenever Clark had the ball in her hands, whether to dish off an assist or shot attempt, the Fever's fans held their breath, waiting to explode once the ball went through the net.
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When the 22-year-old missed, a disappointed sigh filled the arena, as Brink's - and Sparks fans as a whole - chimed in with happiness. On the other hand, whenever Brink had the ball, the crowd waited in nervous anticipation, looking to cheer for their star player.
What's more, it appeared the nearly sold-out crowd was split 50-50, with fans applauding loudly, seemingly louder than Sparks fans, whenever the Fever scored. Considering how massive the WNBA's popularity has gotten in recent months, it stands to reason why fans of both teams were eager to let their affiliations be known.
Additionally, Friday night's matchup between the Fever and Sparks marks the first time Clark and Brink have faced each other in their professional careers. That said, the two have gone up against each other off the court, with Brink being one of the five finalists for the John R. Wooden Award.
Clark ultimately won the award for the second straight season . With how talented the 2024 draft class is, it makes sense why fans are more than ecstatic to see two of the biggest stars from the class face each other.
Aside from Boston, Clark and Brink receiving loud applause, the No. 4 pick in the 2024 draft Rickea Jackson also was well-received by the crowd. The USC women's basketball team, led by head coach Lindsay Gottlieb, was showered with love as they threw shirts to fans.
Regardless of how the night ends, Clark's - and the rest of this draft class's - impact is clear. And as a result, the WNBA is experiencing a boom like no other.
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