A year ago, fans lined up to watch Caitlin Clark’s draft night for $49.99. Today, they’re paying double to witness Paige Bueckers take center stage. The price hike didn’t scare anyone—it sold out like a buzzer-beater three. From Brooklyn to Hudson Yards, the stage is bigger, the buzz louder. A generation of hoop heads is here for more than just basketball. And just like that, the Clark vs Bueckers rivalry has extended beyond the court—right into the ticket office.

The numbers don’t lie: general admission to last year’s WNBA Draft cost $49.99. This year, those same seats at The Shed in New York City are $99 and completely sold out.

According to ESPN, “The WNBA’s premium ticket packages, which includes reserved seating and special access to draft night events, including in some cases access to the orange carpet that the draftees walk down, are almost sold out.”

The only package still up for grabs as of Friday afternoon? A $299 “draftee” tier. The spike isn’t just inflation—it’s impact.

And fans were vocal about it.

The Paige Bueckers vs. Caitlin Clark Showdown: From Ticket Price Hikes to a New Era of Women’s Basketball

“The way they put a Paige Bueckers tax this year and it still sold out super fast,” one fan posted — and honestly, that’s the perfect way to sum up the madness.

There’s hype… and then there’s Paige Bueckers hype — the kind that laughs in the face of a $50 ticket price increase and still fills every seat. Don’t believe it? Check the facts: she’s No. 2 in women’s college basketball NIL rankings, No. 58 on the entire NIL 100, and has a growing army of 5.3 million followers. Oh, and six massive NIL deals in just seven months — with heavy hitters like Madison Reed, StockX, Panini America, and Unrivaled. Not to mention, she single-handedly carried UConn to its 12th NCAA championship like it was a stroll in the park. Yeah, she’s earned that ticket price hike.

She’s even graced Jimmy Fallon, she’s everywhere, and now her draft night? It’s already a cultural milestone in the making.

“Paige Bueckers Effect,” another fan commented.

Not wrong—but it’s bigger than that. It’s not just the effect, it’s the momentum. If Caitlin Clark’s arrival felt like a revolution, Paige’s entry is the prophecy fulfilled. It is like a good ending to a book, which was predictable, yes, but still sweet. 

And that effect? It’s etched into every sold-out seat. Tickets jumped from $49 to $99 this year—and still vanished. Why? Because Paige Bueckers is rewriting demand. And don’t get it twisted—this is pure Paige Bueckers effect. Olivia Miles, another top prospect, bowed out of the draft. But look at the buzz. Kiki Iriafen, Anessah Morrow, and Sonia Citron are solid names—but none touch the Paige-level magnetism.

And her WNBA debut isn’t just a draft night—it’s the sequel to a saga. Everyone remembers when Clark lit up UConn with 21-9-7 in the 2024 Final Four, while Paige dropped 17 trying to claw back. Iowa edged out a 71-69 win in a game that pulled 14.2 million viewers—ESPN’s most-watched basketball broadcast ever. You don’t forget a night like that.

Now picture that rematch—Clark vs. Bueckers—in the pros. That’s not just basketball. That’s box office. However, while most Paige fans were gushing over how it is a fact now that the PB effect is real, there were some who were baffled by the prices. But, but, but..that’s not to say they don’t agree with the fact that this hike is also, only and only, because of Bueckers. Fans on Reddit have been sounding off for quite a while now. 

For them, the prices are just unreasonable. And as much as they love Bueckers, they are not paying high dollars to see her hit the stage. One fan even saw it coming- “I knew this was coming as soon as I saw they moved to the god awful neighborhood of Hudson Yards. smh wish it was more affordable for fans to go. Last year was so fun“.

Another fan summed up their love for Bueckers and the frustration at the prices in the best manner possible, saying, “Brother the prices to watch the draft were very much unreasonable this year. For those prices I better be able to personally shake Paige’s hand and help her hold up the jersey for her picture.” So, the sentiment is clear. Good for W, but fans matter. However, it doesn’t seem like much is going to change for them. They might as well start saving up for the 2027 draft.

“No wonder the athletes don’t make any money lol. They get paid off of ticket sales,” joked another fan.

And honestly? It’s not far off. In 2025, ticket sales are the new salary structure — or at least, that’s how it’s starting to feel. Clark’s draft drew 2.45 million viewers and 1,000 fans in person, making it the most-watched WNBA draft in history, per SwishAppeal. This year? Expect those numbers to get torched. But here’s the catch — all that hype, all that money? It still doesn’t translate into real paychecks. Even the WNBA’s max salary in 2025 is $214,466.

Compare that to Unrivaled — the women-led, U.S.-based pro league founded by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier. According to CBS Sports, it shelled out over $8 million in its debut, averaging $222,222 per player. Axios called it the highest average salary in women’s sports ever. And that’s before you add in equity, revenue sharing, and stateside branding opportunities.

“Blasphemy,” scoffed one fan at the $50 ticket hike.

Sure — the jump stings. But there is an upgrade. Last year’s draft was in Brooklyn. This year? We’re talking The Shed at Hudson Yards (even though some think it is god awful, as we said earlier) — the architectural flex of NYC. It’s not just a draft night anymore; it’s a WNBA spectacle. Call it what you want, but when Paige Bueckers hits that stage, you’re not just buying a seat — you’re buying into a moment. A movement. A main event.

And if you think $50 is wild now? Buckle up. Paige is just the beginning. Lauren Betts. Azzi Fudd. JuJu Watkins. Sarah Strong. A tsunami of star power is on the horizon.

The price of greatness? It’s going up.

One fan called it “Motion” — and they couldn’t be more right. Women’s basketball is in full swing, and the WNBA is riding a tidal wave of growth. According to Reuters, the 2024 season was the most-watched in over two decades, with an average of 1.2 million viewers per game on ESPN. The Finals? A jaw-dropping 1.6 million — the highest in 25 years.

But that’s not all. ESPN projects women’s sports to generate $2.35 billion globally in 2025 — a 25% jump from 2024 — with basketball leading the charge. Ticket sales, merch, media rights: you name it, the WNBA’s getting a piece of that $1 billion pie.

And with the Paige Bueckers effect now in full force? These numbers might just be the beginning. We’re talking about a whole new level of hype that could shatter even the rosiest projections.