If women’s basketball in 2026 is a solar system, Caitlin Clark is the sun. Its rapid growth over the past few years has been in part due to Clark. The rise in fans, brand value, team valuations everything is on a steep hike. On the back of that growth, the WNBPA was able to secure million-dollar salaries for their players. Now, Clark has revealed her perspective on the role she plays in this immense thing, and it’s not what you might expect.
The “GOAT of TV Ratings” is very much the prime crowd-puller for the WNBA. The Indiana Fever are the second most valued team in the league, only behind the New York Liberty. the Caitlin Clark effect increased Iowa’s gross domestic product by between $14.4 million and $52.3 million while generating about $82.5 million in consumer spending. In her rookie season, Clark was responsible for more than 25% of the league’s revenue. That is a lot of benefit from one player but Clark isn’t there for all that.
“I honestly think I’m just very much myself. That’s how I try to approach it,” Clark said on her second NBC appearance at the Knicks-Thunder game. “I’m not here. This was never my goal to change women’s sports. Like I just showed up and I played and I loved every single second of it. And, I feel a responsibility to show up and put a smile on everybody’s face that buys a ticket and comes and watches us play.”
That attitude has played a part in why Clark is so popular. The passion and pure joy are infectious. But there is also the negative part of gaining all this popularity. Last season, Clark played only 13 games because of multiple soft tissue injuries and the viewership dropped at the all star game. The 2025 All Star game drew 2.19 million viewers on ABC, a 36% drop from 2024 which drew a record-high 3.44 million viewers.
The WNBA as a whole still experienced growth, as it was still the most watched regular season since 1998, averaging 969,000 viewers for nationally televised games. But beyond the numbers, the league lost a Caitlin Clark, who builds on her enormous rookie campaign. The fans couldn’t watch another rendition of the Caitlin Clark-Angel Reese rivalry. They are now eagerly waiting for her thumping return in 2026. But before tip-off, the front office must get to work, as the Fever front office faces an uphill task.
Caitlin Clark Comments On Kelsey Mitchell’s Return As Concerns Surround Fever
The new CBA brought celebration as well as some problems. The bump in salaries was, of course, the target but the salary cap dynamics bring a challenge for Fever to retain their big 3. The $1.5 million Super Max is more than 21% of the $7 million cap, which the Fever initially planned to give Kelsey Mitchell.
But the EPIC provision allows Boston and Clark to upgrade to a max earlier than expected. This complicates the situation for the Fever. Yet, Clark maintains they will look to retain Kelsey Mitchell.
“We really only know about five or three people that are going to be on our team next year, but I feel like we have a great core,” Clark said. “Our first priority is to sign Kelsey Mitchell back. [She] was first team All-WNBA last year and is my running mate in the backcourt.”
If that is the case, Mitchell could agree to a 1-year deal and kick the can down the road. Or, she could take a salary cut and agree to a max contract. This is a compromise she could have to make to remain on a winning team and play under Stephanie White, who believed in her. However, we will only get concrete information once we get into that torrid free agency period and the expansion draft too.