The Caitlin Clark Effect has had great results for the Indiana Fever and women's basketball.
Pacers Sports & Entertainment has announced a $78 million plan to build a “world-class” performance center dedicated to the WNBA team in downtown Indianapolis, scheduled to open before the start of the 2027 season.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, 22, of Indiana Fever during the first half of Game 2 of the first round of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs at Mohegan Sun Arena on September 25, 2024. , talk to Kelsey Mitchell (age 0). (Paul Rutherford/Imagn Images)
“We are excited to partner with Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett to identify the optimal location for the Indiana Fever Sports Performance Center,” PS&E owner Herb Simon said in a statement. Ta. “The City of Indianapolis continues to be a great partner in improving our team, players and community.”
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The 108,000-square-foot practice center will be connected to Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where the Fever and Indiana Pacers will play, and construction is expected to begin in August 2025.
According to a team press release, the center's design will be geared toward “the unique needs of female athletes competing at the highest level, including performance and conditioning, recovery and rehabilitation, mental health and wellness, and lifestyle support.”
“This elite training center reflects our organization's continued commitment to ensuring our players have the highest level of resources to succeed,” said Indiana Fever President of Basketball and Business Operations. , Kelly Krauskopf said in a statement provided by the team.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark stands guard as Jaycee Sheldon (4) and Natasha Howard (right) of the Dallas Wings defend during the first half of a WNBA game on September 1, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (22 years old) takes a shot. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
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“As we look to the future, our focus on creating a first-class player experience designed specifically for female athletes will set us apart.”
The new center will have two regulation courts, a full-service kitchen, and dedicated areas for yoga and Pilates. Additionally, the team said other features built into the design include “hair and nail salons, childcare space, and a podcast and content creation studio to support players' lifestyles.”
The Fever has their own separate training center at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, which was last renovated in 2020.
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Clark's historic rookie season produced WNBA record numbers in both viewership and attendance. For the first time in league history, the league announced in May full-time charter flights for all teams, which was expected to cost about $25 million annually over the next two seasons.
Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever reacts after making a 3-point shot in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Aug. 16, 2024. (Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
Las Vegas, Seattle and Phoenix have opened new training centers in recent years, and Chicago has one under construction.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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