WNBA Commissioner Claims Caitlin Clark is America’s Most Popular Athlete

Cathy Engelbert, the commissioner of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), has pronounced that Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark is “the most popular athlete in America.”

“I think it’s a balance, but she’s certainly a generational talent,” Engelbert commented. “There’s no single player, but Caitlin has drawn tens of millions of new viewers to women’s basketball.”

She emphasized the significant impact Clark has, not only on the WNBA but across the sports world. “Adam Silver and I always discuss this. She is, without a doubt, America’s most popular athlete,” Engelbert added.

Interestingly, games showcasing Caitlin Clark have garnered more nationwide attention than even the reigning WNBA champions. Six games have been switched to larger venues to accommodate the growing interest, with the season featuring a remarkable 41 out of 44 games broadcast nationally.

This trend signifies that any team in the league, particularly Clark’s Indiana Fever, is capturing more visibility than previous champions like the New York Liberty, which has 33 games scheduled for national broadcast.

Nafisa Collier, a player from the Minnesota Lynx, shared her thoughts on this phenomenon, calling it “crazy.” She noted, “Clearly, people want to watch Kaitlin play, and it makes sense to air games featuring players fans are eager to see. But, there are so many stars in the league, and we want to showcase good basketball too.” She voiced her concerns about why a defending champion wouldn’t receive the same airtime.

Collier expressed a desire for more equitable opportunities for other teams regarding televised games. “It’s not about taking away from Indiana, but elevating the visibility of other teams as well. The Fever should certainly have their time on primetime, but I believe other teams should be given more chances too,” she remarked.

Last June, it was reported that Caitlin Clark’s presence had a notable effect on the WNBA, boosting its ratings and attendance significantly in the early weeks of the season. In May, around 400,000 fans showed up for a WNBA game, marking the largest attendance for a season-opening game in 26 years. The league reported that over half of its games sold out, which is an impressive 156% increase compared to the previous year.

Nationwide arena attendance has reached 94% capacity, with WNBA games averaging about 1.32 million viewers on major networks like ABC, ESPN, and CBS. In comparison, 2023 saw an average of 462,000 viewers for the league.