The Indiana Fever find themselves in a bizarre and desperate situation heading into the postseason. Despite the fact that they boast the league’s brightest star in Caitlin Clark, the team has struggled to sell playoff tickets.

Prices on resale markets have dropped to shocking lows, with some fans able to grab seats for less than a dinner bill. To make matters even stranger, the Fever appear to be leaning into Clark’s superstar appeal in the most unusual way imaginable: using her like a larger-than-life mascot, complete with a WWE-style promo campaign that has fans laughing, cringing, and asking what exactly the team is trying to do.

The stunt first surfaced online when a team-produced video dropped featuring Clark standing in the Fever locker room, microphone in hand, delivering a fiery “promo” straight out of pro wrestling.

“We’re not done yet! We’re coming for everyone, and we’re not backing down!” she declared, pounding her fist into her palm. The promo, complete with dramatic camera zooms and background hype from teammates, was meant to build excitement for the playoffs. But instead, it came across to many as a sign of how desperate the Fever are to move tickets.

The comparison to WWE wasn’t accidental. The Fever’s marketing team appeared to model the video on the style of classic wrestling promos, where stars like The Rock or John Cena would cut fiery speeches to pump up fans before a big match.

The difference? Caitlin Clark is not a wrestler, and the forced theatrics felt out of place for a player who has already proven herself as a generational basketball talent. Fans quickly joked online that Clark was being turned into a “mascot” rather than being treated like the superstar she is.

Social media erupted with memes almost instantly. One fan posted a photo of Clark edited into a WWE ring with the caption, “Indiana Fever: now entering the Sports Entertainment era.” Another joked that ticket prices were falling faster than a wrestler taking a staged chair shot. Instead of rallying fans to buy tickets, the campaign seemed to provide comedy fodder that underscored just how bad the situation had become.

The numbers tell a grim story. According to early sales data, Fever playoff tickets were initially listed at premium prices, banking on Clark’s drawing power. But when sales stalled and seats remained empty, prices plummeted.

By the time the promo video dropped, tickets on secondary markets were reportedly available for under $10. For a team with the most-hyped rookie in league history, it was a shocking development and one that cast serious doubt on the Fever’s marketing strategy.

Part of the problem, analysts say, is timing. The Fever have struggled to find consistent success on the court, and fans who might have packed the arena early in the season have cooled off as losses piled up.

Combine that with the fact that Clark has been dealing with injuries and fatigue from her historic rookie campaign, and the atmosphere around the team hasn’t exactly been electric. A theatrical promo video isn’t enough to reverse those realities.

Still, the promo did manage to shine a light on Clark’s charisma. Even while awkwardly playing along with the WWE-style theatrics, she displayed the same poise and presence that have made her such a media sensation.

Some fans even admitted they loved seeing her break out of her shell and deliver lines with a wink of confidence. “She could actually do this if she wanted to,” one fan tweeted. “Caitlin Clark on WWE Raw when?”

The problem, though, is that Clark shouldn’t need to play a fake role to sell tickets. Critics blasted the Fever for reducing her to a gimmick instead of promoting her as the revolutionary basketball player she is.

It sparked debate about whether the WNBA as a whole is struggling to figure out how to market its stars. While Clark has the game and personality to carry the league forward, stunts like this risk undermining her credibility in the eyes of serious fans.

Others pointed to the deeper issue of how women’s sports are marketed. “This is exactly the kind of thing that keeps the WNBA from being taken seriously,” one sports columnist argued. “Instead of focusing on the high-level basketball being played, they resort to gimmicks that make the league look amateurish. Caitlin Clark doesn’t need to be a mascot — she just needs to be Caitlin Clark.”

Despite the backlash, the promo did succeed in generating conversation. Clips spread across X, TikTok, and Instagram, with millions of views piling up in a matter of hours. In an era where attention is currency, some Fever executives might consider that a win, even if ticket sales didn’t skyrocket overnight. At the very least, the Fever became the trending topic of the day — something that may not have happened otherwise.

Still, the larger questions remain. Why are ticket sales tanking in the first place? If Caitlin Clark can’t fill the arena during a playoff run, what does that say about the Fever’s ability to capitalize on her star power?

Is it a problem with the team’s inconsistent play, the league’s scheduling, or simply the limitations of a fan base that isn’t yet large enough to sustain massive demand? These are the questions that will linger long after the laughs from the promo fade away.

As for Clark, she continues to navigate the chaos with professionalism. After the promo went viral, she was asked in an interview how she felt about being compared to a WWE star. With a smile, she simply said, “Hey, whatever it takes to get people excited. But I’d rather just go out and win games.” It was a classic Clark answer — direct, self-aware, and grounded in the game she loves.

Whether the Fever can turn the ticket sales around is anyone’s guess. What’s clear is that their attempt to hype the playoffs by turning Caitlin Clark into a wrestling-style mascot has created one of the strangest storylines of the postseason. Fans may not be rushing to buy tickets, but they’re certainly paying attention — and in today’s sports landscape, that may be the Fever’s small consolation