Caitlin Clark has been crowned Time’s Athlete of the Year, a testament to her transcendent performance in basketball and her impact beyond the hardwood.
Clark, the sharpshooting guard for the Indiana Fever, has not only rewritten record books but has also become a symbol of inspiration for aspiring athletes across the globe.
Her ability to score from anywhere on the court, combined with her leadership and tenacity, led Indiana to new heights, including their first playoff appearance in several years.
The Time writeup is extensive, not just touching on Clark’s stellar Rookie of the Year season and all the records she broke in her first year.
What truly sets Clark apart isn’t just her on-court prowess; it’s her influence off the court.
Caitlin Clark is TIME's Athlete of the Year https://t.co/WtgLuIIYhb pic.twitter.com/oGDewhUPcB
— TIME (@TIME) December 10, 2024
Caitlin Clark – Time’s Athlete Of The Year
Caitlin Clark played a significant role in elevating women’s basketball, drawing unprecedented attention to the game.
Her games were must-watch TV, evidenced by record-breaking viewership numbers, and that is why she was named Time Athlete of the Year.
“As a pro, she set a rookie record for most three-pointers made in a season while also setting new all-time WNBA marks for most assists in a season and most assists in a single game,” the outlet writes. “She signed a reported $28 million endorsement deal with Nike, the largest ever for a women’s basketball player.”
“Clark’s Fever appeared in the most watched WNBA games ever on ABC, CBS, ESPN, and ESPN2,” adds Time.
“The WNBA attracted an all-time record of more than 54 million unique viewers across all its national broadcasting platforms during the regular season, and the league’s overall attendance jumped 48% year over year to its highest level in more than two decades.”
Clark’s appeal transcends sports; she’s become a cultural phenomenon, influencing fashion, inspiring young athletes, and even affecting how games are broadcast and marketed.
A Transcendent Talent
Caitlin Clark is a once-in-a-generation talent. It’s now up to the WNBA to capitalize on her appeal.
The WNBA sensation has significantly impacted the league, contributing to 26.5% of the league’s revenue in 2024, as per an analysis by Ryan Brewer, an associate professor of finance at Indiana University Columbus.
When Brewer was asked “to put a price tag on Caitlin Clark — what she has meant financially to the WNBA, her city and the country in her rookie season with the Indiana Fever — the numbers were so shocking that Brewer was sure he must have made some mistake,” the IndyStar wrote.
According to Brewer’s numbers, Clark has been responsible for an astonishing 26.5% of the WNBA’s activity this season, including attendance, merchandise sales, and television viewership.
Despite earning a modest $76,535 in her rookie season, Clark’s influence has led to a 300% increase in total WNBA TV viewership, with her games averaging 1.2 million viewers, and a 500% rise in merchandise sales.
Her presence has also been credited with driving record attendance, with the Fever averaging 17,036 fans per game, highlighting her astronomical value to the league.
“Good luck naming another player who altered the trajectory of their entire team sport within five months on the job,” Time says in their Athlete of the Year article.
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