Transitioning from Iowa to Indiana, Caitlin Clark spilled her effect like confetti on the hardwood. The golden goose, they called her. Responsible for 26.5% of all WNBA economic activity, the headlines ran. The league was raking in the benefits, and no one wanted to turn a blind eye. So when the second season set in, the WNBA wasn’t shying away from capitalizing on the impact. That hasn’t gone unnoticed. If anything, a reporter is spelling it out for the rest of the league. 

Caitlin Clark effect has been there for everyone to see. Indiana Fever’s ticket sales have skyrocketed from 227,979 in 2023 to a staggering 643,343 in 2024. And it’s not just Indiana; league-wide average attendance is up by 44%, reaching heights not seen since the late 1990s. What’s better? Ryan Brewer, a professor at Indiana University Columbus, ran the numbers and estimates that Clark’s influence could push WNBA revenue close to $1 billion this season.

With Clark sidelined due to a left quad injury, there’s no doubt it could impact the league’s ratings. Some have already taken a noticeable dip. According to TickPick, ticket prices for upcoming Indiana Fever games have gone down massively. The average cost for the next five matchups has dropped from $137 to just $80. Some tickets have nosedived even further, from $86 to a jaw-dropping $25. The Fever vs. Sky game? That one’s seen a 71% drop in prices! That further possibility has led one national reporter to take a stance that might come as a harsh truth to the players.

“The WNBA does have, like, a lot of eggs in the Clark basket, right? Like, they are promoting her more than any other player in the WNBA,” Sabreena Merchant of The Athletic said on No Offseason: The Athletic Women’s Basketball Show. 

Clark’s regular-season games averaged 1.2 million viewers, a staggering 199% more than games she didn’t play in. TV viewership jumped by 300%, and nearly 45% of the league’s total broadcast value is now tied to Fever games. So for the 2025 season, Clark & Co. are scheduled to appear on national television in 41 of their 44 regular-season games. This is more than even the defending champions, the New York Liberty, and the Las Vegas Aces.

People haven’t shied away from guessing and scrutinizing the reasons behind the 5 Fever vs Sky games scheduled this season, either. They are bringing in the ticket sales and driving the viewership, unlike ever before — 2.7 million for game 1.

Napheesa Collier, for one, understands the necessity. “People want to watch Caitlin play. You have to put the people on TV that people want to see,” she had said on ESPN’s First Take. However, she wishes the opportunity had been utilized to shed light on the rest of the good parts as well. “At the same time, there are stars all over the league, and you want good basketball as well… You don’t have to take games away from Indiana, but you can raise the level of TV games for other teams as well,” she added.

That’s where Sabreena Merchant’s next point eases in. The reporter was quick to remind everyone that the WNBA isn’t a one-woman show. On the same podcast, she made it clear that while Caitlin Clark’s absence is a big deal, it’s far from the end of the world. In fact, it might be the perfect opportunity for new fans, who’ve jumped on the CC bandwagon, to discover just how deep the league’s talent pool really is. “To me, Clark was always the entry point for fans, right? And so, she introduces you to all these other things about the WNBA,” the reporter reassures.

Superstars like Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier, and A’ja Wilson have been carrying the league for years. They may not have received the same level of spotlight Clark has in just over a year, but they’re a massive reason the W is as competitive and entertaining as it is today.

But the real question still hangs in the air — will the Fever survive without their talisman? They’ve already lost two games without her, and if you’re a Fever fan, the early signs aren’t exactly comforting.

Can the Indiana Fever manage without Caitlin Clark?

When it was officially announced that Caitlin Clark would be sidelined for the next two weeks with a left quad injury, the Fever were already 2-2 to start the season. Coach White made it absolutely clear that the Fever won’t rush their talisman back.

“Don’t over-push, don’t overexert,” White said. “Making sure that we take the long-game approach to this, so that we’re not having lingering issues throughout the course of the season. Sometimes great players don’t tell you when they’re hurting. I’m glad that she did, because we need to nip this in the bud.”

The Fever have already played two games without their guard, and her absence was visible as the disjointed Fever offensive unit couldn’t overcome the Washington Mystics. They shot 39.7% from the field, far from ideal if you want to win a game. Then they fumbled against the winless Connecticut Sun. Though a close 85-83 game, it should have hardly come to that with the experience and offensive power the Fever came in with and showcased right in the preseason.

The loss meant that the Fever have now lost 4 of their last 5 games. Alarming times? Maybe, given that this team has championship aspirations. They run it back with the Mystics once again next. And hopefully this time they break the streak.