Caitlin Clark’s career at Iowa and the start of her rookie season in the WNBA have been nothing short of phenomenal. Clark and fellow rookie Angel Reese have not only been performing exceptionally well on the court but have also significantly moved the needle in attracting viewers and generating revenue across the league. The two have been key in the amplification of the WNBA in mainstream media and casual fans, making the WNBA a regular feature on ESPN for the first time. Clark and Reese’s arrival onto the scene brought a wealth of attention for the WNBA, raising its popularity to the levels seen during its inaugural season.
Additionally, the rookies’ influence has been evident in the surge in the league’s attendance figures. Clark, with her title of all-time leading scorer in NCAA history, has been instrumental in driving attendance numbers for the Indiana Fever. In 2023 they were 11th out of 12 WNBA teams in average attendance. In contrast, they are now ranked at No.1, according to Across the Timeline. This increase in popularity resulted in a record-breaking crowd turn-out during a match between the Indiana Fever and Las Vegas Aces in July.
Another testament to Clark and Reese’s influence is Indiana’s status as the WNBA’s top-drawing road team. The Chicago Sky are the second-highest in that category, largely due to Reese’s whopping 4.1 million Instagram followers. Both players’ popularity has led to a huge shift in the WNBA’s spectator demographics, with a remarkable 60% YoY growth among viewers of color reported by the WNBA. This boost is also replicated in WNBA app usage and League Pass subscriptions, marking a significant increase in the league’s digital engagement.
Clark’s performance on the court has also been significant. Her impact on games as a shooter, passer, and pace-setter, along with her ability to transform the Indiana Fever from a struggling team to playoff contenders, is commendable. Clark has broken franchise and rookies scoring records and is on her way to breaking the league’s single-season assists record. She currently ranks first in the WNBA with an average of 8.4 assists per game and breaks another record by scoring or assisting on 37.3 percent of the Fever’s points, according to ESPN.
Reese’s performance is as remarkable, breaking league records once held by Candace Parker, Sylvia Fowles, and Tina Charles. Known as the “Bayou Barbie”, Reese has broken records for total rebounds and offensive rebounds. Her 15 consecutive games with double-digit points and rebounds broke Parker’s record, demonstrating her dominant and consistent presence on the court.
However, it’s arguably the pair’s overall impact on the growth of the WNBA that is their most significant contribution to date. Their arrival has been compared to that of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird in the NBA in 1979, due to their college rivalry and respective backgrounds. But while Johnson and Bird were credited with saving an ailing NBA, Clark and Reese’s accomplishment has been to dramatically build on an already solid WNBA foundation. The growth they have inspired in the league in terms of diverse audiences and engagement across digital platforms is a testament to their importance to the WNBA, making them deserving of shared recognition with the ‘Rookie of the Year’ award.
