Indiana Fever‘s guard Caitlin Clark has been thriving in the WNBA ever since she was selected as the No. 1 draft pick over two years ago. Her on-court prowess in college for the Iowa Hawkeyes has successfully transcended in the W.
She announced her arrival in the league after emerging as the Rookie of the Year. During her first stint with the Fever, she averaged 19.2 points, 5.7 boards and 8.4 assists per contest.
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Alongside her basketball craft, she also brought a new wave of fans to the WNBA who were already following her throughout her college basketball days. The league witnessed a big spike in viewership in 2024 whenever Clark appeared on the court. Her second season with the Fever was no different in terms of pushing fans’ interest in the WNBA even further despite the fact that she couldn’t play the entire regular season due to injuries.
While there have been debates on whether Clark has actually driven WNBA’s popularity to an unprecedented level, several prominent figures like Stephen A. Smith have backed her up.
Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark signs fan autographs after her jersey retirement ceremony on Feb. 2, 2025 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
(Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Recently, ESPN’s vice president of women’s sports programming and espnW Susie Piotrkowski clearly underlined Clark’s inevitable impact, not just for the WNBA but also for women’s sports in general.
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“I say this in quite literally the most positive way possible: Caitlin’s a gateway drug for some people to women’s sports,” said Piotrkowski while speaking to Front Office Sports. She mentioned that due to Clark, new fans have joined the W as viewers. “I think every single one of us can say what Caitlin has done for our business is incomparable,” she added.
While Piotrkowski lauded the Indiana Fever guard for driving the league, she also made a point for top-notch basketball quality that has managed to retain fans who may have initially joined primarily because of Clark. Per the ESPN exec, “people are coming because the product is excellent. And they are not leaving.”
As for Clark, her fans will soon get to see her in action. After being away for an extended period due to the groin injury last July, she will be seen making her USA national senior team debut this month. She’s part of the 12-player roster for FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup qualifying tournament. It will take place between Mar. 11-17 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
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If all goes well regarding the ongoing CBA talks, Clark will then appear for the Fever in her third WNBA season in May.
Related: Caitlin Clark Makes Gesture for Fan Amid WNBA Offseason
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Mar 3, 2026, where it first appeared in the WNBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
