Caitlin Clark transforming the WNBA before even playing a single regular-season game

The 2nd one at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse saw 13,000 fans in the stands. Not even all NBA preseason games generate such numbers. Compared to that, last season the Indiana Fever’s average regular season attendance was 4,000. That is an increase in percentage that will make even the best of the best investment bankers have their eyes wide open.

It seems even the number above is not enough. Back-to-back champions, the Las Vegas Aces, ply their trade at the Michelob ULTRA Arena which has a maximum capacity of 12,000. However, ticket demands for the game against Clark on July 3rd forced the team to book the T-Mobile Arena, which can house 18,000 fans.

That arena is home to Stanley Cup winners, the Vegas Golden Knights. It also hosted the NBA’s In-Season Tournament last year. It shows that Clark has actually impacted the league enough to push themselves up into the sky without even taking one shot attempt yet.

From taking the coach to chartered flights

Ever since the WNBA has been in existence, players, coaches as well as staff have traveled by normal commercial flights. Or as is known fondly ‘took the coach’ to games. In comparison, NBA teams have chartered flights fueled and ready for even a free-agency recruiting trip.

It has been brought to the attention of the basketball world before. However, as always, the WNBA cited a lack of income for its inability to provide chartered flights for its players. Therefore, it was a common sight to see the likes of Sabrina Ionescu, who went toe to toe with Stephen Curry in the 3-point contest, spend a lot of time in the waiting areas just to catch a flight.

All that changed in an instant. All it needed was for fans to post pictures and videos of Caitlin Clark making her way through airport tunnels and cramped economy flights to get to her 1st preseason game in Dallas. That ordeal also led Clark to speak about it in the media. It led to a flood of attacks on the league for failing to provide basic security and travel arrangements.

In a matter of days, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced that it is investing $50 million to book chartered flights for 2 years. A decision which was met with a lot of applause across the sporting communities. In the end, Clark’s words had an impact, as did the videos of her forced the league to make a decision it kept pending for all these years, in a matter of days.

Caitlin Clark’s endorsement deals rubbing off on the likes of WNBA Finals MVP A’ja Wilson

A’ja Wilson has simply been the most dominant player in the WNBA for the past few seasons. She is a 2-time league MVP, an NBA Finals MVP, a 2-time Defensive Player of the Year, and a 2-time back-to-back champion. Such a player should have her own personal shoe and major endorsement deals; unlike Ionescu, who hasn’t won anything other than a 3-point shooting contest but has a signature shoe.

After news came out that Clark would get a monster deal from Nike, it was the final blow for the entire basketball community. They demanded that the league’s best player should have her own signature shoe. Nike listened and has announced that her first signature shoe will launch in 2025. Wilson has also signed a major multi-year endorsement deal with Gatorade.

This is not only limited to A’ja Wilson. Sabrina Ionescu has become the newest brand ambassador for luxury watch brand Tissot. All of this seems like an after-effect of Caitlin Clark about to get a signature shoe and wearing Prada ever since the 2024 WNBA Draft. Marketing companies are now doling out endorsements to WNBA players not named Caitlin Clark, in a bid to tap into the growing fan following for the women’s game. Endorsements will bring a major increase in income for players.

All in all, it is good, rather great for the sport. If Caitlin Clark can have this sort of an impact even without any direct involvement, what else can happen where she is directly involved? The basketball world seems to have turned to their newest superstar – someone who is bringing sweeping changes to the women’s game.