The game was 308 fans shy of the WNBA record, which was set in 1999 between the Washington Mystics and the Cleveland RockersEthan Miller/Getty Images

The Las Vegas Aces and Indiana Fever drew the largest WNBA crowd in 25 years last night, as “a record-breaking” 20,366 fans saw the Aces earn an 88-69 win at T-Mobile Arena. The attendance was “not only a new franchise record, smashing the previous one by nearly 3,000 people,” but also the “the fifth-largest crowd all-time.” It was 308 fans shy of the WNBA record, which was set in 1999 between the Washington Mystics and the Cleveland Rockers. It was also the “first WNBA game to surpass 19,500 fans that wasn’t at the Verizon Center/Capital One Arena in Washington or Madison Square Garden.” Aces coach Becky Hammon said that “there were times where she felt like the building was going to explode” (LAS VEGAS SUN, 7/2).

The Fever have “become accustomed to big crowds at home and on the road this season,” as the popularity of G Caitlin Clark has “helped the Fever drive up their attendance.” Sunday’s Fever-Mercury game in Phoenix drew 17,071 fans, the “largest crowd at Footprint Center since 1997.” There have been eight games in WNBA history to draw at least 20,000 fans. Four came in the opening years of the league, from 1997-99, and there were two from 2000-23. Two “have come this year, both Fever games” — last night and June 7, when the Fever and Mystics drew 20,333 in Washington. The Aces typically play at Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay, which “holds about 12,000” (ESPN.com, 7/2).