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Fever add 11 TV markets for Caitlin Clark’s rookie season

USA TODAY
                                Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark controls the ball as Dallas Wings guard Ashley Joens defends on Friday.
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USA TODAY

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark controls the ball as Dallas Wings guard Ashley Joens defends on Friday.

Former Iowa standout Caitlin Clark is getting the Indiana Fever some more screen time.

Twelve television markets will aid in broadcasting 17 of Indiana’s games for free this season, allowing fans to get a better glimpse at Clark, the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s WNBA draft.

WTHR in Indianapolis was originally set to air Fever games, but now it will be getting some help from 11 more stations across five states. Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Iowa and Kentucky will each have at least one station showing Clark and teammates take the court this summer.

With the expanded coverage, Fever games will have the chance to reach 4.6 million homes.

“This is a pivotal moment for our Fever team and women’s basketball, more broadly, and this groundbreaking partnership with TEGNA (a broadcast and digital media company) will ensure more fans than ever will be able to watch this historic season,” Pacers Sports and Entertainment chief executive officer Rick Fuson said in a statement.

Next Tuesday marks Indiana’s season opener, and the first broadcast of this expanded coverage will occur two days later when they take on the visiting New York Liberty.

“We could not be more excited to make these exciting WNBA games available to more fans, in more homes, across more markets, including Caitlin Clark’s home state of Iowa,” TEGNA senior vice president of media operations Brad Ramsey said in a statement. “We are grateful to the Pacers organization, the WNBA and our broadcast partners for their trust, and for helping us create a first-of-its-kind fan experience.”

Clark, 22, scored 3,951 points during her time with the Hawkeyes (2020-24) to become the all-time leading scorer in NCAA history for both men’s and women’s basketball. She was a two-time National Player of the Year.

The Fever went 13-27 last season, finishing 10th in the 12-team WNBA.

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