Caitlin Clark’s WNBA Influence Sparks Jaw-Dropping Financial Projection

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Tristan Afshar | Last updated May 24, 2025 11:44 AM ET

The spotlight on Caitlin Clark hasn’t dimmed—it’s only getting brighter.

Since her historic entrance into the WNBA, Clark has captured the attention of basketball fans across the country. But her influence goes far beyond her deep shooting range or dazzling stat lines. It’s reshaping the league’s economics in ways few expected.

According to a new report from NBC News, Clark was responsible for a staggering 26.5% of all WNBA economic activity during her rookie year. That includes everything from ticket sales to TV revenue to merchandise—a figure that stunned even seasoned analysts.

The data comes courtesy of David B. Brewer, an associate professor of finance at Indiana University Columbus who specializes in valuations. Asked by the Indianapolis Star to quantify Clark’s financial effect on the league, Brewer’s findings quickly made waves.

A Billion-Dollar Projection

Brewer’s analysis suggests that if Clark simply maintains her current momentum through an expanded 2025 season, her impact on the WNBA’s economy could reach $875 million. With modest growth and continued fan interest, Brewer believes that number could exceed $1 billion.

Caitlin Clark was responsible for 26.5% of all WNBA economic activity last season, including revenue from merchandise, ticket sales and television, according to an expert at valuations. https://t.co/x4bmiPCro3
— NBC News (@NBCNews) May 24, 2025

“If things just go as they were, and we have an expanded season of 22 home games with modest inflation, I’m looking at $875 [million],” Brewer told NBC. “And I could easily see that eclipsing a billion dollars on the economic impact of Caitlin Clark this year.”

This projection cements what many already believed: Caitlin Clark isn’t just the future of the WNBA—she might be its most valuable asset ever. Clark is leading the surge of a new era in the game.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: