Caitlin Clark shouts out Atlanta fans after Fever beat Dream in Hawks' arena

Atlanta has some of the best sports fans in the nation, and the city just showed it at State Farm Arena. Even with Trae Young and company nowhere to be found, fans packed into the home of the Hawks to watch the Atlanta Dream host Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever in a riveting WNBA showdown.

Clark’s impact was felt on that magical Monday evening as the Dream set a franchise record for attendance with 17,608 fans at the game. However, the inevitable swarms of Clark jerseys were accompanied by countless Atlanta basketball jerseys. Fans repped Hawks players, Dream players, and even players from other Atlanta sports franchises like the Falcons.

The great basketball fans of Atlanta made waves with their record-setting attendance, both figuratively and literally.

The crowd was already locked in and engaged at tip-off, and the energy almost felt palpable. Atlanta has some of the most passionate and knowledgeable sports fans out there, and Clark made sure to give those fans a shoutout in her pregame press conference.

“I felt like the last time we were here, there were a lot of just basketball fans,” Clark said. “A lot of people that really appreciate the game and understand the game … It’s really fun getting to see young kids in your jersey, trying to take some time to interact with them.”

Many fans at the game were supporters of the Hawks and the Dream

Naturally, many Dream fans in the arena were also Hawks fans. A few of these fans talked to Soaring Down South about their favorite Atlanta basketball players and their thoughts on the upcoming Hawks season.

Christopher, a Georgia native who has been a diehard Hawks fan for over a decade, shared his favorite hoopers from both the Hawks and the Dream.

“My favorite Hawk is Trae Young, but I love a lot of other guys on the team too,” CJ said. “I love Rhyne Howard on the Dream because of her role at Florida as an assistant coach and her overall vibe as a competitor.”

Howard, the No. 1 pick for the Dream in the 2022 WNBA Draft, played 36 out of 40 possible minutes in the contest. She finished with 16 points on 4/10 shooting from three. Veteran center Tina Charles led the Dream with 28 points on 13/21 shooting.

Sebastian, whose favorite Hawks player is Onyeka Okongwu, shared his thoughts on the upcoming season for ATL.

“I’m excited to see how Jalen Johnson responds to the hype he’s getting as a breakout candidate,” Sebastian said. “I think he’s going to have a great season.”

Needless to say, Hawks fans know their stuff. They also care deeply about other Atlanta franchises, as evidenced by the incredible crowd at State Farm Arena’s second-ever WNBA game.

After the game, Dream head coach Tanisha Wright praised her team for the fight they displayed in front of a crowd much bigger than the one they usually play for. The Dream typically play at Gateway Center Arena where the College Park Skyhawks — the Hawks’ G League affiliate — also play. That arena seats a maximum capacity of 3,500 fans. They played for five times as many people in State Farm Arena.

It truly felt like a Hawks playoff game in the building. Clark and the Fever won 84-79, but it felt like the whole sport of basketball won more than anything.