Caitlin Clark Effect: Mackey Arena sold out for 4th time in Purdue women's basketball history
Ethan HansonWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The hype surrounding Iowa women's basketball guard Caitlin Clark has reached its capacity max here in west central Indiana.
Mackey Arena has sold out for just the fourth time in Purdue women's basketball history with reigning Player of the Year Clark leading the Hawkeyes tonight against Purdue at 8 p.m.
It's the second sellout under Purdue women's basketball coach Katie Gearlds and is the second between the Boilermakers and Hawkeyes.
More:Where does Caitlin Clark rank among top women's players to visit Purdue's Mackey Arena?
Here's a quick look back at the other three times Mackey Arena has met its full capacity starting in 1999 against Ohio State.
Feb 14, 1999: Ohio State vs. Purdue:
The first sellout in Purdue women's basketball history was primetime Boilermaker basketball on the greatest team ever assembled in West Lafayette. Stephanie White-McCarty and Ukari Figgs each scored 18 points, Katie Douglas scored 17 points while Camille Cooper scored a career high 19 points and grabbed 13 rebounds.
A true party for Purdue who beat Ohio State 88-58. The greatest season in Purdue women's basketball ended with the Big Ten Conference's only National Championship over Duke.
Feb. 24, 2000: Iowa vs. Purdue
A similar cast would assemble again for Purdue who was ranked No. 21 facing Iowa 22 months before Clark was born. Cooper and Douglas led a strong offensive performance for Purdue who went 29-35 from the free throw line. Cooper scored 24 points, Douglas scored 21 points and Purdue beat Iowa 73-59.
More:Caitlin Clark's history vs. Purdue women's basketball, and what she hasn't done at Mackey Arena
Feb. 5, 2023: Indiana vs. Purdue
Fans would pack Mackey Arena to the brim nearly 23 years later with the in-state rivalry between the Hoosiers and Boilermakers. Mackey Arena would set a new record filling the seats of 14,876 fans in the first sellout in head coach Katie Gearlds' career. Purdue struggled shooting 32.8% from the floor and fell to Indiana 69-46.
Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached atehanson@gannett.com, on Twitter at EthanAHansonand Instagram at ethan_a_hanson.