Caitlin Clark Drives Record WNBA Growth Despite Earning League-Minimum Salary

The Indiana Fever rookie is credited with over a quarter of the WNBA's economic activity and nearly half its broadcast value in 2024.

Caitlin Clark's rookie season accounted for 26.5% of the WNBA's league-wide activity, including attendance, merchandise sales, and TV viewership, according to valuation expert Dr. Ryan Brewer.
Clark's games drew record-breaking TV audiences, with her playoff debut attracting 1.84 million viewers, surpassing viewership for other playoff games by significant margins.
The Indiana Fever became the most-watched team in the league, with the 14 most-viewed games of the season featuring Clark, and their average attendance exceeding 17,000 fans per game.
Clark's economic impact extended beyond the league, contributing an estimated $36 million to the Indianapolis economy in 2024 alone.
Despite her immense value to the league, Clark earned only $76,535 in 2024 due to the WNBA's collective bargaining agreement, which caps rookie salaries.