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REPORT: Caitlin Clark's SLAM Magazine Special Edition Cover Sold Out In Just Minutes 3 Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5) reacts to a flagrant foul from Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) on Saturday, May 17, 2025, during a game between the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Indiana Fever defeated the Chicago Sky, 93-58.

'Literaly Changing The Entire League Economy': Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese Gets The Taylor Swift, Beyonce Comparison From Colin Cowherd

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics | By Dan Agulto | Last updated Jun 18, 2025 7:43 AM ET

Never had the WNBA seen the impact Caitlin Clark gave, greatly increasing viewership and engagement in a short time. The said effect drastically went down when the Indiana Fever star was out due to injury, which, for analyst Colin Cowherd, was never realized by the league.

Speaking on “The Herd” on Tuesday, Cowherd and co-host Nick Wright weighed in on the Caitlin Clark effect, comparing her to artists Taylor Swift and Beyonce, who quickly rose to music stardom. Wright also resembled Clark, similar to NBA superstars like LeBron James.

The analysts also mentioned Clark’s rivalry with Angel Reese, believing that reducing conflict between the players’ fan bases shouldn’t be hard, similar to how there’s no squabble between Swift’s and Beyonce’s fans.

“It’s not anti-Beyonce to say that Taylor Swift’s tour changed the economy,” Cowherd said. “It is not anti-Angel Reese of the WNBA to acknowledge she’s the Tiger (Woods) 20 years ago on the (PGA) tour, like the ratings disappear. It’s nothing against the WNBA. She literally is changing the entire league economy, and I don’t think that’s a knock on the league.”

Caitlin Clark previously sustained a left quad injury in the Fever’s game against the New York Liberty last May, causing her to miss five games. At the same time, the WNBA’s viewership dropped by 55% while Indiana’s games, such as the rematch against the Chicago Sky, were down by 53%.

However, viewership significantly increased by 76% when the former Iowa standout returned to the court on Saturday, where she dropped 32 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists in the rematch against the Liberty. The match’s viewers peaked at 2.8 million, with an average of 2.2 million.

Moreover, Cowherd did clarify that he never meant to disregard other stars such as Reese, but insisted that the WNBA should equally focus more on Caitlin Clark.

Colin Cowherd sent stern Caitlin Clark message to WNBA players

Colin Cowherd, a long supporter of Caitlin Clark, made a profound remark on the dire consequences of the WNBA sophomore’s once absence to the WNBA’s viewership. The analyst believed Clark was the “sun at the beach,” leading the WNBA’s high viewership.

“Hopefully this is good news that she’s coming back. And it’s a reminder: Ladies of the WNBA, she is the rising tide,” Cowherd said. “This is not Fever games just down. This is league ratings. Since she got hurt, down 55-percent. She is essentially the sun at the beach: If she’s not out, nobody else is…”

“WNBA television ratings down more than 50%…since Caitlin Clark’s injury…Be nice, WNBA players, to the lady that currently has her leg up because she’s giving the league a leg up.” – Colin Cowherd pic.twitter.com/cK8IZQT0pJ

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 12, 2025

Jun 14, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) in the second half against the New York Liberty at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Now that Caitlin Clark has returned to the court, the league’s engagement for fans like Cowherd will continue to increase. Clark and the Fever will face the Golden State Valkyries on Thursday.

This article first appeared on Hardwood Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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