Cathy Engelbert makes glowing statement about Caitlin Clark's impact ahead of highly anticipated sophomore season

Modified May 16, 2025 11:47 GMT

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert highlighted the impact of Caitlin Clark on the league following her meteoric rise in her rookie season.

Clark and was the face of the 2024 draft class, taking the league by storm and helping increase the overall ratings.

On "The Bill Simmons Podcast," Engelbert was asked about Clark's impact on the WNBA and how the league will balance her promotion along with other stars. Engelbert mentioned the millions of viewers that the Indiana Fever star brought to the league, but said it was important to ensure other top players like A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier were also marketed in the right way.

"No league is ever about one player, but in this case, Caitlin brought tens of millions of new viewers to the W," Engelbert said. "There’s no denying that impact, not just in the WNBA but in the world of sports. Adam (Silver) and I talk all the time about this. She's the most popular athlete in America.

"You want to make sure that you balance your other stars like A'ja Wilson, like Breanna Stewart. Napheesa Collier killed it last year. She was the runner-up MVP and the Defensive Player of the Year."

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Clark had a historic rookie season. Apart from setting records on the court, she had an unparalleled impact on viewership and ticket sales. The Sparks, Las Vegas Aces, Washington Mystics and Atlanta Dream all moved their home games against the Fever to larger arenas to accommodate the rising interest.

According to CNN, the league’s overall attendance increased by 48%.

Financial experts estimated that Clark's impact on the city of Indianapolis was $36.5 million.

Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese set to renew rivalry at start of the WNBA season

The WNBA is banking on Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese to deliver on opening week, with the Indiana Fever hosting the Chicago Sky on May 17. Clark and Reese have been touted as rivals ever since their college days at Iowa and LSU, respectively.

Clark got the upper hand on Reese last season, with the Fever beating the Sky 3-1 in the regular season series. The Fever superstar also won the WNBA Rookie of the Year ahead of Reese, whose one first-place vote stopped Clark from taking the award unanimously.

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It will be interesting to see how their first game of the season goes, especially with both teams overhauling their rosters.

About the author

Juan Paolo is a journalist for Sportskeeda who covers the NBA and WNBA. He's been writing about basketball since 2015 and has been with Sportskeeda since 2021.

Juan's allegiance lies with the Golden State Warriors and his journey with the Warriors began with their memorable victory over the Lakers in 2000, and he experienced the successes of the 'We Believe' era and the rise of Steph Curry.

What Juan loves most about basketball is its ability to evoke a range of emotions, from adrenaline-fueled excitement to the highs of victory and the lows of defeat. To ensure complete accuracy in articles, he conducts thorough research before writing his articles.

The Warriors' victories in the 2022 and 2017 championships hold a special place in Juan's memories, as well as iconic moments like Baron Davis' dunk over Andrei Kirilenko and Goran Dragic's performance in the 2010 Western Conference semifinals.

Off the court, Juan enjoys watching football, TV and movies, caring for his numerous cats, and cooking whenever time permits.

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