Despite the Fever’s constant struggles this season, Caitlin Clark has tremendously impacted the WNBA viewership. Now, the fans are telling her to change her number from 22 to $2.2 billion because that’s what she’s worth to them and what she brings to the game! Clark recently made history as she became the first rookie to record a triple-double for the Indiana Fever. Her great performance, inclusive of recording 19 points, 13 assists, and 12 rebounds on the New York Liberty, has been hugely praised.

Excitement about Clark isn’t about just on-court performance. She received more than 700,000 votes, more than any player, which testifies to her high popularity among WNBA fans. Throughout the 2024 season, twelve WNBA games have surpassed one million viewers, the most since 1997.

Clark’s games have been a major draw, with nearly every top-viewed game this season featuring her and the Fever. A notable game against the Liberty on CBS averaged 1.87 million viewers, peaking at 2.65 million, marking it as the fifth-highest viewership for a WNBA game in the past 23 years.

In addition to providing an on-court spark, the popularity of Clark has additional benefits that hugely elevate the WNBA’s financial future. The league’s new national media rights package will bring in close to $2.2 billion across 11 years—$200 million annually. That is a long way from what it presently pulls in with the $50 million a year deals, which were heading toward the final buzzer following the 2025 season. Joining ESPN’s renewal are NBC and Amazon, as other packages will add an estimated $60 million annually.

Fans React to Caitlin Clark’s Impact

Fans cannot hold back from witnessing this incredible deal about the media rights package and give the deserved credit to Caitlin Clark and her impact on creating such numbers in viewership history. Her factor for marketability and attracting new fans every day to see her sport, she has the charm factor.

Fans feel Clark’s value to the WNBA is so high that the jersey number should reflect the $2.2 billion media rights deal. It shows a value elevation of the league realized with her presence and likens her worth to this particular sum. With the media package being due to her viewership, the fans are taken over by comparing the numbers.

“Honestly Caitlin Clark should change her number from 22 to $2.2B”

A fan, however, also felt that Clark may bring money and exposure that will be detrimental to the WNBA image. She subtly notes that increasing commercialism of the league itself or its heightened media attention might forget its founding ideals or cause undesirable effects.

“Clark is ruining the WNBA’s reputation with all of this money and publicity.”

Later, an X user joined the thread to take notice of Caitlin Clark’s financial impact on the WNBA. According to them, she has been behind the league’s new media rights deal that will yield $2.2 billion over 11 years—a statement alluding to her popularity and influence as the direct cause for this financial gain.

“Caitlin Clark just got everyone paid”

Although not everyone feels the same. A user pointed out that the recent financial gains and increased viewership attributed to Clark were not solely because of her. It referred to the other factors or contributors who are responsible for these developments, downplaying Clark in the league’s success.

“Have zero to do with Clark”

One user even broke down the economics behind Clark’s impact. The user explained how she increased viewers and attracted more advertising opportunities to attract profit for the WNBA.

“Fandom drives viewership. Viewership drives advertising opportunities. Advertising opportunities creates profits.”

What do you think of Clark? Let us know in the comments below.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud, Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub, and more, watch this video.