WNBA Team With Just 13 Games Surpasses Caitlin Clark’s Fever in Value

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Orlando Silva | Last updated Jun 24, 2025 12:49 PM ET

Caitlin Clark's impact on the Indiana Fever and the WNBA altogether is undeniable.

The former No. 1 overall pick brought many more eyes to the league after a historical collegiate career with the Iowa Hawkeyes, where she became the all-time leading scorer in Division I basketball, a four-time AP All-American, two-time AP Player of the Year, a three-time Big Ten Player of the Year and a two-time recipient of the Naismith Award, among other honors.

In just two years, Clark increased her team's value from $90 million in 2024, which is slightly less than the league average estimate, to $340 million by May, according to Ryan Brewer, an associate professor of finance at Indiana University Columbus.

As remarkable and impactful as she's been for the Fever, Clark couldn't make her team the most valuable franchise in the WNBA. That honor belongs to a team a young guard is yet to beat in her career. Kurt Badenhausen of Sportico shared on Tuesday that the Golden State Valkyries are the first $500 million women's team in pro sports.

The defending champions, New York Liberty ($420), follow the expansion franchise, while the Fever rank third on this list with $335 million. The Valkyries have only played 13 games in the WNBA (7-6), but that hasn't prevented them from becoming the most valuable franchise in the competition.

Clark's Fever's home games averaged 17,035 fans last season, surpassing the Indiana Pacers. The Valkyries, on the other side, became the first team to average over 18,000 fans in their first three home games.

The early success they're experiencing isn't exclusive to their finances. The Valkyries are over the .500 mark at this moment, surpassing the expectations many had for an expansion team. They have been unable to beat the Liberty in two duels this season (92-67 on May 27 and 82-77 on May 29), but the Fever didn't stand a chance against them in their first-ever duel on Friday (88-77).

Golden State will have a new chance to beat the Liberty on Wednesday at 10 p.m., when they host the defending champions for the first time.

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

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