Ever since Caitlin Clark joined the WNBA, the “Caitlin Clark effect” has been the talk of the league. And why wouldn’t it be? Her presence alone was enough to sell out WNBA draft tickets in just nine minutes. With a jaw-dropping NIL value of $3.1 million and a string of record-breaking performances, her impact on the league’s popularity is undeniable. Now, her impact is even getting recognized by her boyfriend Connor McCaffery’s new team, where he took on the helm.

A recent tweet from a fan page of Butler Bulldogs, the team which McCaffery has joined as an assistant coach, brought some interesting insights from a Forbes report into the spotlight, shedding light on Caitlin Clark’s powerful influence on women’s sports. The report features an interview with Butler’s Associate AD for Development and NIL Strategy, Graham Honaker, who discussed advancements in NIL deals within women’s athletics where he didn’t miss a beat in crediting Clark for the surge in visibility and opportunities.

“The growth and dramatic rise in the popularity of women’s basketball has also been evident in my conversations. In addition to wanting to support Butler Athletics, many of our donors and partners have commented on how the surge in popularity of the women’s games influenced their decision to support us. Fortunately, we’ve also been aided by the fact that Caitlin Clark is playing professionally in Indianapolis and her impact, alone, has elevated women’s basketball in Indianapolis,” Honaker was quoted in the article.

This spotlight on Caitlin Clark’s influence follows Butler University’s recent announcement of partnerships with 29 corporate sponsors, 28 of them specifically supporting their women’s basketball program. Honaker highlighted Clark’s role in boosting the NIL landscape, with her own NIL value standing at an impressive $3.1 million—a huge leap from $910,000. The surge in her valuation came after she shattered the all-time scoring record in college basketball during her time with Iowa.

However, as McCaffery’s new team openly credits Caitlin Clark for her impact on women’s basketball, the recognition feels well-earned, backed by stats and figures that truly tell the story of the “Clark effect.”

The game-changing impact of Caitlin Clark on women’s basketball

The “Caitlin Clark Effect” on the WNBA is undeniable. Her arrival not only boosted viewership; it had packed arenas and prompted teams to relocate games to accommodate the surge of eager fans. Her influence hit a new high when her last regular-season game against the Washington Mystics set a single-season attendance record, drawing an incredible 20,711 fans to the stands.

By August, the Indiana Fever dominated the WNBA’s national TV lineup, leading with 36 televised games. This season, 10 of their broadcasts had smashed viewership records across ESPN, ION, CBS, and NBA TV, including the most-watched WNBA game in 23 years. Clark’s influence has also fueled a massive 1,300% boost in Fever ticket sales compared to last year, and even in the playoffs, her impact continued to attract more fans, drawing unprecedented attention to women’s basketball.

Clark made waves in her first postseason, drawing a jaw-dropping 1.84 million viewers for her game against the Connecticut Sun. But it didn’t stop there—her final game of her rookie season soared to over 2.5 million viewers, numbers that surpass those for even some of the most thrilling WNBA Finals matchups.

So Clark is aware of the growth, sole contributor or not, and she wishes for the league to capitalize on it to only increase the visibility of women’s sports. “Just how it’s evolved and in such a short period of time, I think shows everyone, you know, there are real opportunities here and there has been opportunity. So I think that’s what so exciting. So the more we can continue to expand that and continue have games on national television and get people in seats…” she voiced.

These impressive numbers clearly underline a fresh wave of excitement and visibility for women’s basketball. It’s no surprise that McCaffery’s team at Butler has taken note.