Caitlin Clark (Photo Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images)
The sun hadn’t even bothered to rise properly, but the sidewalks around Gainbridge Fieldhouse were already alive. Hoodies, lawn chairs, coffee cups clutched like lifelines- this wasn’t your usual Tuesday morning in downtown Indianapolis. It looked more like the scene outside a stadium before a championship bout or the drop of a once-in-a-generation sneaker. Except this time, it was all for one person: Caitlin Clark.

She hasn’t played a full season yet, but she’s already changed the way fans show up for women’s basketball. Six hours before tip-off, the line wasn’t just long, it was personal. Young girls in ponytails wore her jersey like armor. Parents took photos like they were documenting history. People weren’t just buying merch. They were buying in.

Clark Mania Sweeps Indianapolis

Caitlin Clark (Photo By Grace Smith / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, who arrived early to catch the scene, captured the energy outside the arena.

“There is a line for Caitlin Clark merch around the corner at 9 a.m. An hour before the team store opens. Six hours before tip-off,” he posted on X, formerly Twitter. “There has never been anybody like Caitlin Clark.”

His post sparked a flurry of responses. “What Michael Jordan did for the NBA is the only comparison,” one user commented.

Another chimed in, “Clark’s impact is unmatched.” The enthusiasm wasn’t just online, it was everywhere you looked around downtown Indianapolis.

Fans showed up wearing Caitlin Clark jerseys and left with bags full of more. One fan joked, “Waiting in line for CC merch while already wearing CC merch,”

Another added, “This is the literal definition of a needle mover, game changer, box office attraction.”

The Fever’s opener isn’t just a game- it’s a marquee show. The Chicago Sky arrive with Angel Reese, Clark’s longtime college rival, setting up a clash that has drawn national interest. ABC, ESPN+ and Disney+ are carrying the game live at 3 p.m. ET, a rare triple broadcast that signals just how big this moment has become.

Clark’s presence in the league has only intensified the momentum women’s basketball has been building over the last several years. Now, with scenes like this morning’s in Indianapolis, there’s no doubt she’s not just part of the movement, she’s leading it.