During a recent appearance on The Bill Simmons Podcast, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert called Clark the "most popular athlete in America — and it sounds like even Adam Silver agrees.
Clark, who was the No. 1 overall draft pick in the 2024 draft for the Indiana Fever and is poised to lead her team on a deep playoff run in only her second season in the league, remains the biggest driving force behind the growth in WNBA popularity.
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But that doesn't mean she's the only reason fans are showing up. "It is a balance, but she's a generational talent," Engelbert also said. "No league is ever about one player, but in this case, Caitlin brought tens of millions of new viewers into the W. And there's no denying that impact. Not just in the WNBA, but the world of sports. [NBA commissioner] Adam [Silver] and I talk all the time about this, she's the most popular athlete in America."
"But again, you do want to balance it," Engelbert continued. "Because obviously, we saw what happened with JuJu Watkins getting hurt. You want to balance making sure that you're also promoting your other stars like an A'ja WIlson, like a Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier... That's why this year is sustain and gain. Sustain the momentum we had last year and gain even more new viewers."
The Indiana Fever plays the team's first game of the regular season against the Chicago Sky on Saturday, May 17.