The Indiana Fever-Chicago Sky tickets fell from the sky like a meteor when it was confirmed that Caitlin Clark would be missing the marquee clash with her quad injury. The resale price of those tickets went from $393 to about $7. Despite Clark’s absence, Chicago came out in record numbers in their first game at the United Center. 19,496 fans watched as Fever spanked the home team 79-52.
This continued the trend of away fans coming out to watch the Indiana Fever, as they have the highest average attendance while traveling in the league. Ever since Caitlin Clark’s addition, the Indiana Fever has skyrocketed in every popularity metric imaginable. Clark has sold the most jerseys in the league, and the Fever has the highest average home attendance, regularly bringing in more than 15,000 fans to watch their games. And when Clark was around, those tickets were highly priced, too. So, you would think that the Indiana Fever would be the most valued team in the league, but that is not the case.
In the recent rankings released by Forbes, the Indiana Fever stands in second place with a valuation of $370 million, which is slightly behind to New York Liberty’s $400 million. Now, keep in mind these numbers are how much the investors value that franchise and not actual money made by them.
The Indiana Fever also went from $90 million last year to $370 million this year, marking a 311% increase. On the other hand, the Liberty went from $130 million to $400 million, which was a 207% increase, so Clark and Co. outpaced the title-winning team. Along with that, the Indiana Fever has the most revenue generated in the league with $32 million. However, considering that only Clark is bringing in so much money on her own, it is a surprise that they are still behind in terms of valuation.
Clark was responsible for a staggering 26.5% of all WNBA economic activity last season, including revenue from merchandise, ticket sales, and television. The report by a finance educator at Indiana University Columbus, Ryan Brewer, adds that the 23-year-old is going to help the league earn almost a billion dollars in the ongoing season.
In an interview with NBC News, Brewer said, “If things just go as they were, and we have an expanded season of 22 home games with modest inflation, I’m looking at $875 [million]. And I could easily see that eclipsing a billion dollars on the economic impact of Caitlin Clark this year.”
Clark is only 23. The future holds great things for the Indiana Star. We must remember that the Fever was nowhere near the New York Liberty before her. Their average attendance stood at a low 4,066 in 2023, while Liberty already had almost 8000 coming in those doors. They had a group of veteran stars in Sabrina Ionescu, Courtney Vandersloot, and Jonquel Jones, while Indiana didn’t quite match them. Caitlin Clark has taken them from the trenches to almost the top, and they will probably be there soon, considering their trajectory.
Caitlin Clark and Wilson Reveal Signature Basketball Collection
Caitlin Clark already has ties with many of the top brands in the market. Clark signed an 8-year, $28 million endorsement deal with Nike in April 2024, which includes her signature shoe. She has also secured endorsement deals with Gatorade, State Farm, Hy-Vee, and Panini, among others, contributing to her growing marketability and financial success. She also became the brand ambassador of $2.5 billion worth of Wilson Sports Goods last year.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) returned to Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City for a WNBA preseason game against the Brazil national team on May 4, 2025.
Clark had become the first female athlete to launch a signature basketball collection with Wilson. Her limited-edition basketballs, part of the Wilson Inspire Series, sold out in less than 40 minutes upon release. The brand announced the expansion of its signature basketball line. Now heading into year two, Clark has worked closely with the Wilson team to design and develop the new line that will be released on June 23rd.
“I love working with Wilson to create these signature basketballs, and I hope this collection helps to inspire young girls and boys to get out and play,” the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year said. “I’m really excited about the designs because they share even more about me as a person and player.”
The four new basketballs, titled Embrace, Aspire, Oasis, and Envision, are part of a special release that blends performance with purpose, aiming to inspire players both on and off the court. Revealed in a cinematic promo featuring rising star Caitlin Clark delivering a powerful motivational message, each ball showcases unique colorways and uplifting quotes, designed to reflect different mindsets and playing environments. Each ball has a personal touch from Caitlin, whether it be the color or her favorite motivational quotes.
With each product release and brand collaboration, Caitlin Clark continues to elevate her value far beyond her WNBA salary, which currently accounts for just 1% of her total earnings. As the Indiana Fever experiences a surge in popularity and the WNBA sees unprecedented growth in viewership, ticket sales, and media coverage, Clark’s influence is undeniable. The league is set to receive a huge cash injection following their $200m a year media deal for 11 years starting from next season. With the upcoming conclusion of CBA negotiations, there is growing hope that Clark’s compensation will begin to better reflect the enormous value they bring to their teams, their franchises, and the league as a whole.
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