Fever Use Caitlin Clark as Mascot Cutting a WWE Style Promo after Playoff Ticket Prices Tank

The Indiana Fever have found themselves in a bizarre spotlight yet again, and this time it has nothing to do with game-winning shots or record-breaking stats. Instead, the team’s front office is facing backlash after a viral stunt that fans are calling both desperate and humiliating. Reports are spreading that the Fever rolled out Caitlin Clark, their rookie superstar and the undisputed face of the WNBA, not as the franchise centerpiece she truly is, but as something closer to a mascot, cutting a WWE-style promo in a last-ditch effort to save crashing playoff ticket sales.

The move has fans shaking their heads, critics blasting the franchise, and social media going into a frenzy. After weeks of headlines about Clark’s grueling workload, strained relationship with management, and growing tension over medical treatment, the Fever’s latest ploy may be the wildest twist yet in a season full of drama.

The Ticket Price Collapse

To understand why the Fever would even think of pulling such a stunt, you have to start with the numbers. Playoff ticket prices for the Fever had been hyped to the moon when the team looked like it would ride Clark’s star power into a Cinderella postseason run. Early listings on resale sites had tickets soaring above $250 a seat. But reality hit fast. The team’s inconsistent play, disappointing losses, and lingering concerns about Clark’s health have cooled the hype dramatically.

In the last week alone, tickets for Fever playoff games have cratered. Seats that once looked like gold are now selling for as little as $25, with some sections nearly empty. For a league that has pinned its future on Clark’s ability to draw crowds, the optics are disastrous.

That’s when the marketing department apparently decided to reach into the world of pro wrestling for inspiration.

Caitlin Clark Cuts a Promo

Instead of focusing on basketball or fan experience, the Fever went all-in on spectacle. In a moment that felt ripped straight from a Monday Night Raw broadcast, the team had Caitlin Clark step in front of cameras with a microphone, delivering a fiery, over-the-top monologue promising revenge, dominance, and playoff glory.

With a spotlight glaring and a crowd of confused fans watching, Clark raised her voice and declared that “the Fever are here to shock the world” and “anyone who doubts us will regret it.” She even slammed her hand against the podium for dramatic effect, sending the clip spiraling across social media within hours.

For some fans, the promo was entertaining. They cheered Clark’s energy and praised her willingness to lean into the showmanship of sports entertainment. But for many others, the whole thing felt wrong. They argued that Clark looked uncomfortable, forced into a gimmick that trivialized her role as one of the most gifted players in basketball today.

Fans Outraged Over the “Mascot” Treatment

The backlash came fast. Hashtags like #ClarkDeservesBetter and #NotAWrestler began trending on X (formerly Twitter), with thousands of fans criticizing the Fever for treating Clark more like a marketing tool than a professional athlete.

“This is embarrassing,” one fan wrote. “She’s not a mascot. She’s the best player on your roster, the only reason you’re even relevant. Stop humiliating her.”

Another fan posted a side-by-side photo of Clark’s promo next to a WWE clip of John Cena, sarcastically captioning it, ‘You can’t see me, but you can see ticket sales dropping.’

Some even accused the franchise of desperation, arguing that instead of focusing on building a winning roster and protecting Clark’s health, the Fever are simply chasing attention in the cheapest ways possible.

The WWE Vibe Backfires

Sports media outlets picked up the story almost immediately. Analysts compared the promo to infamous marketing disasters in sports history, from awkward halftime gimmicks to cringeworthy player endorsements.

“It’s one thing to have fun with the fans,” one commentator said. “It’s another thing entirely to take your franchise player and turn her into a sideshow because you can’t fill seats. The optics are terrible.”

Even WWE fans chimed in, mocking the Fever for “borrowing” pro wrestling without understanding its appeal. “At least in WWE, the storylines make sense,” one fan joked. “Here, it just feels like they’re desperate.”

Caitlin Clark Stays Professional

Through it all, Caitlin Clark has remained composed. Those close to her insist that she agreed to the promo as a professional courtesy, doing what the team asked without complaint. Still, body language experts who studied the footage say she looked stiff, uneasy, and clearly out of her element.

Clark has made no public comment beyond the scripted lines, but her silence speaks volumes. Fans know she is too savvy to openly criticize the team, yet many suspect she wasn’t thrilled with the stunt.

What This Says About the Fever

The larger question is what this entire episode reveals about the Fever as an organization.

On one hand, they are clearly desperate to capitalize on Clark’s star power. She is the reason people buy tickets, tune into broadcasts, and talk about the Fever at all. Without her, they risk slipping back into irrelevance.

On the other hand, the constant stunts, questionable decisions, and overreliance on Clark have made the team look unstable and out of touch. Rather than building a winning culture and supporting their star properly, the Fever appear to be squeezing every ounce of marketability from her, no matter how awkward or damaging.

Where Do They Go from Here?

The fallout from the WWE-style promo will take time to settle. Ticket sales may get a short-term bump from the viral attention, but the long-term damage to the Fever’s reputation could outweigh any benefits.

For Clark, the incident adds another layer to a rookie season already filled with controversy. She remains the most important player in the WNBA, the league’s biggest draw, and the Fever’s only real hope for sustained success. Yet if she continues to feel more like a mascot than a franchise cornerstone, questions about her future with the team will only grow louder.

As one fan summed it up on social media: “You don’t build dynasties by turning your stars into gimmicks. You build dynasties by respecting them.”