“I just thought that was incredible, having the Golden State Valkyries essentially sell out their arena for a preseason game. The hype is going to be real, and they might actually be better than all of us are anticipating.” The buzz surrounding the Golden State Valkyries is increasing by the day. After all, selling out the whole arena is a huge feat, especially for a newly introduced team like the Valkyries, even for national analysts like Rachel DeMita, who glanced at the recent developments in W ahead of the preseason.

Whether it was their first W draft this season or the training camp sessions, the Valkyries have not failed to disappoint. Except recently. When they parted ways, it was a deserving rookie in Shyanne Sellers. This move by head coach Natalie Nakase left everyone wondering if the team was worth taking a bet on. And though the Valkyries boasts of a powerful international roster that carries greater basketball IQ and perspectives, certain rookies have stood out from the rest.

In another twist of events, Valkyrie’s rookie, Kaitlyn Chen, surpassed Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever in jersey sales ahead of the regular season. Referring to former Paige Bueckers UConn teammate, Rachel pointed at the overall jersey sales on her podcast. “I saw a video that Mike Talks Hoops made, where he talked about Kaitlyn Chen’s jersey already being one of the highest-selling jerseys,” she said. Chen’s jersey, recording one of the highest sales, comes as great news for the team and for the player in particular, especially after uncertainty surrounding her draft this year.

DeMita further explained what to expect at the WNBA store and whose jersey has been selling like hot cakes already. “If you go to the WNBA store, the top jersey sales- Caitlyn Clark is obviously top three. Then you have Angel Reese, you have Paige Beckers, A’ja Wilson, more Caitlyn Clark, and then Kate Martin is still in those top jersey sales,” DeMita said. Well, slipping from the top to the top three position in jersey sales, it is shocking to find the Caitlin Clark effect gradually diminishing in the W. Meanwhile, players like Chen and Hailey Van Lith jerseys are grabbing more eyeballs and money.

In the wake of rookies and the discovery of more efficient pro players, Rachel glanced at the changing dynamics within the W. As the newly inducted players carry their skill sets and unique fan bases to the pros, the analyst remarks, “These rookies and sophomores just have so much hype behind them.”

 Talking about Chen and Hailey Van Lith, she said, “The new fans are so involved and attached to them. So, to see players like Kaitlyn Chen, who didn’t even know she was going to get drafted, you have Hailey Van Lith, Angel Reese is still up there. Kate Martin is still up there, and then, obviously, Caitlyn Clark is clearing everyone. Paige Beckers is up there as well. It’s so cool to see how the league is growing.”

 Undoubtedly, the women’s basketball league is growing as the teams are no longer centered around key players to lead them. Gradually, thanks to social media, each student-athlete boasts a strong fan base these days. And this fanbase then translates to the pros with them. As rookies and sophomores secure their spots in the pros, we can already witness how much the fans affect their popularity, thanks to this year’s jersey sales.

Is Caitlin Clark no longer the face of the league?

As other promising rookies get inducted into the pros this year, the Caitlin Clark Effect has started to lose its fragrance. Looking at the ticket sales of the away team, Dallas Wings, one thing is clear. Rookies like Bueckers are making their presence felt. And will this new normal go against Clark?

Caitlin marked an outstanding performance on the home ground last week, where she averaged scoring 16 points, six rebounds, and five assists in just 19 minutes. The full-house of 14,998 spectators went into a frenzy as Clark shot a 36-foot three-pointer from beyond the arc and stole the thundering 108-44 victory against the Brazilian national team.

And while Fever relies on Clark’s spectacular on-court stints, her absence is felt in the preseason opener against the Mystics. The inclusion of other players like DeWanna Bonner, Aliyah Boston, and Natasha Howard on the roster is sure to divert fans’ attention.

And whether Clark revels in this new normal and focuses on getting better or feels she has to surpass other promising talent to be crowned the best, one thing is clear. The audience is well-informed and exercises their rights and interests towards the worthy players in the W. And clearly, her performances will determine if she will remain the face of the Indiana Fever.