“The numbers are so staggering. They don’t even seem real.” These were the words of a finance expert on the impact of Caitlin Clark on the WNBA. Truly, it is undeniable. She has been a standout player in the league from the start. The surge in popularity since her joining is comparable to the boom the NBA saw with the Hoosier hysteria. Reportedly, the Indiana Fever player was responsible for driving a quarter of the WNBA revenue in 2024.
While most have highlighted the record-breaking revenue and viewership Caitlin Clark has brought to the sport, Christine Brennan took a different route. She chose to spotlight Clark’s cultural impact, a legacy beyond numbers. In her book On Her Game, Brennan explores Clark’s meteoric rise and the transformative effect she’s had on women’s sports. According to Brennan, the rise of Clark is so staggering that she has caused some trouble back in NBA camps.
Brennan made this shocking revelation while featuring on The Rich Eisen Show. She first pointed out the stigma that was around women’s sports. She said the women’s sports were considered a laughing stock by many. But the narrative has changed since Clark’s arrival, especially in basketball. According to her, the people who used to once laugh at women’s basketball are now rushing to get the number 22 jersey of Clark. That is true, as the sales of jerseys in the WNBA grew by a whopping 500% when Clark made her debut.
The WNBA player left behind NBA players, the likes of LeBron James and Luka Doncic, in sales numbers. But then came a groundbreaking fact from Brennan. “The Indiana Fever’s average home attendance last year, the first year of Caitlyn Clark, was higher than the average home attendance of five NBA teams,” revealed Brennan. This is a mind-boggling fact that a female rookie player pulled in numbers higher than the NBA. In the 2024 season, the Indiana Fever averaged an attendance of 17,036 per game.
This average was better than the Hornets, Pacers, Grizzlies, Wizards, and Hawks. All these teams had an average below 17000 in 2024. The Suns and Pelicans were also on comparable numbers with the Indiana Fever, narrowly edging above them. While Clark may have troubled the NBA with these numbers, Brennan believes she also has the power to trouble the WNBA.
Christine Brennan believes Caitlin Clark has become bigger than the WNBA
The battle between the WNBA players and the executives is no new news. Major players like Clark, Reese, and Bueckers are demanding that they get compensated according to what they deserve. The disparity in the WNBA and NBA is so high that rookies from both leagues have a pay difference of $922,000! While this battle rages on, Brennan believes the Indiana Fever player has an option to just walk away.
Jul 9, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) shoots the ball while Golden State Valkyries forward Monique Billings (25) defends in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
According to the author, the 23-year-old has the backing of brands like Nike, Wilson, and Gatorade. Brennan pitched her wild idea and said, “If Nike said, ‘We’re going to make the Nike Clark League,’ they could do it. It would take a few years to get the arenas and logistics in place, but the TV contract? It’s Caitlin. The TV viewership is all about Caitlin Clark, not Angel and Caitlin. Just Caitlin.” The author believes that the combined force of Nike’s market value and Clark’s ability to pull viewers can signal a booming start to a new league.
Her statement is true, to some extent. When Clark’s injury forced her to the bench, the WNBA national TV ratings dropped by over 50%. The author claimed this impact on a league is unparalleled by any other. Even Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan did not have this much control over a league, according to her. It is undeniable that Clark has a strong effect on the WNBA. But this narrative is also changing. Arguably, Clark was the start of the snowball effect for the WNBA that is going to increase over time. New stars like Paige Bueckers are joining the league and going straight into the limelight. While the CC effect is real, but so is the capability of the WNBA to survive on its own.
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