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

Caitlin Clark's impressive rookie year in the WNBA was a win-win, not just for the Indiana Fever star, 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 the TIME cover and was the face of a Forbes feature on why she was one of the most powerful women of the year. Speaking about her influence on women's sports, The Collective's Thayer Lavielle called the Fever guard a "lightning rod".

“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).

---

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 spotlight 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."

On the season front, the Fever have a new coach in Stephanie White after their playoff exit in 2024. It'll be interesting to see how the pair fare in Caitlin Clark's second year in the league.