UNCASVILLE, Connecticut ¨C The Caitlin Clark era in the WNBA began to fanfare and a sold-out crowd on Tuesday, as fans piled into Mohegan Sun Arena to witness what they believe is a turning point for women¡¯s basketball.

Fans wove through buzzing casino games and lined up outside the gates more than two hours before Clark¡¯s regular season debut with the Indiana Fever on the road against the Connecticut Sun.

The league hopes it hit the jackpot with Clark, who broke the all-time collegiate scoring record in her final season at Iowa and became appointment viewing in households across the United States.

¡°It¡¯s so emotional. It¡¯s so awesome,¡± said Candace Crabtree, a former college coach who traveled from Boston with her wife and 8-year-old daughter to see the game.

¡°It¡¯s just an amazing experience because as an athlete myself and coach, we didn¡¯t have the same type of exposure.¡±

Ticket sales have surged across the WNBA on resale platforms, with Clark¡¯s celebrity helping to bring a bigger spotlight to the women¡¯s league, which has long trailed in popularity compared to its men¡¯s counterpart.

Veterans and fans said the change was apparent at Mohegan Sun Arena, which had not sold out a home opener since 2003.

Fans wearing Clark jerseys crowded into seats while framed pictures of the 183-centimeter sharpshooter were up for bid at a silent auction alongside photos of New England sports heroes like Tom Brady and Larry Bird.

¡°The WNBA always gets knocked by people. We get it. We hear the jokes. But I think this is the door opening,¡± said Raul Santana, a Sun season ticket holder for five years who works at the Mohegan Sun casino.

The ice-veined Clark showed no sign of nerves before tip-off, telling a throng of reporters she was simply excited to take the court.

¡°There¡¯s just a different buzz in the air,¡± she said. ¡°That¡¯s what women¡¯s basketball should be.¡±

Clark overcame a slow start in her debut to put up 20 points but the Sun burned too bright, with Connecticut besting the Fever 92-71.