2024 A Year In TIME Dinner - Source: Getty — Caitlin Clark the "lightning rod" set to spearhead potential $1.6 billion resurgence of women's sports

Caitlin Clark the "lightning rod" set to spearhead potential $1.6 billion resurgence of women's sports

Modified Dec 23, 2024 03:42 GMT

Caitlin Clark's beyond-impressive rookie year in the WNBA was a win-win, not just for the Indiana Fever rookie, but also for the league. From being the No. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft to winning Rookie of the Year, Clark along with marquee draft class names Angel Reese and Cameron Brink made sure that viewership hit the stratosphere with a record 54 million views across TV platforms.

Such was the impact that Clark made on the TIME cover and recently was the face of a Forbes feature on why he was one of the most powerful women of the year. Speaking about her influence moolah-wise for women's sports, The Collective's Thayer Lavielle called the Fever to guard a "lightning rod". Per an excerpt from the feature"

“Caitlin Clark became the lightning rod of this moment in time. Lavielle estimates the value of professional women’s basketball and soccer stands to increase by a combined $1.6 billion over the next three years, a figure that is based on attendance and viewership (on television or streaming equivalents) and doesn’t include merchandise or media deals."

Lavielle's estimation also shows how Clark is one of the pivotal figures who put the spotlight firmly on the WNBA (drama and controversies from other players in the league aside). With a rookie pegged for greatness, the former Iowa Hawkeyes star churned out impressive performances to meet all expectations from her after her rich Iowa career.

Mystics co-owner slams TIME for deciding to name Caitlin Clark 'Athlete of the Year'

TIME's decision to name Caitlin Clark as 'Athlete of the Year' didn't sit well with Washington Mystics co-owner Sheila Johnson. She minced no words in her interview with CNN saying the focus on the Indiana superstar took the focus away from some of the immensely-talented players in the WNBA.

"We have so much talent out there that has been unrecognized, and I don't think we can just pin it on one player. Why couldn't they have put the whole WNBA on the cover and said, 'The WNBA is the League of the Year,' because of all the talent that we have."

It has been that kind of an offseason for Clark where she continues to be in the spotlight. On the season front, the Fever have a new coach in Stephanie White after their playoffs exit in 2024 and it's interesting to see how the pair fare in Caitlin Clark's second year in the league.