Caitlin Clark has revolutionized college basketball and has brought the so-called “Caitlin Clark effect” all the way to the WNBA. With that said, a recent report indicated that the “effect” Clark had in college did not seem to stick, as attendance for this year’s March Madness saw a huge drop.
In a recent report by Front Office Sports, a report from the NCAA showed a huge decline in game attendance for March Madness this year compared to the season when Catilin Clark was still in college.
“This year, 224,972 fans attended first- and second-round games at the campuses of the top four seeds in each region of the bracket, according to figures the NCAA provided to Front Office Sports,” the report said. “That’s down 30% from last year’s record attendance of 292,456 and slightly below the previous mark of 231,677 in 2023.”
While the numbers are down when compared to Caitlin Clark’s era, the report also indicated that these figures are still higher from the past several years, which could indicate that the “Caitlin Clark” effect may have stuck, but not as much as one would have expected.
Recently, new Indiana Fever player Sydney Colson was asked about the impact of Caitlin in women’s basketball, and she praised the Iowa legend for the impact she has made, even economically.
“It was nuts, there’s no other way to say it,” Colson said. “You’re seeing a team that’s now affecting the economy in the city. People coming from out of town, out of state, out of the country maybe even to see games and that’s special.”
How Much Was Caitlin Clark’s Financial Impact to The WNBA?
The “Caitlin Clark effect” found its way to the WNBA when Clark was drafted by the Indiana Fever. Her impact during her rookie season in the WNBA has been nothing short of remarkable, both on and off the court. A valuation analysis showed that her presence has been attributed to driving 26.5% of the league’s activity in 2024, including attendance, merchandise sales, and television viewership.
The Indiana Fever’s games drew record-breaking attendance, averaging over 17,000 fans per game, while WNBA merchandise sales skyrocketed by 500%, with Clark leading the charts. Despite her unmatched economic contributions to the league and the city of Indianapolis, her rookie salary under the WNBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) was limited to $76,535.
While Clark’s success has ignited renewed interest in the WNBA, questions remain about whether the league can sustain this momentum and translate it into long-term financial growth.
For more basketball content, click on Hardwood Heroics. Sabel Reyes can be reached through [email protected]. Other websites under the Sports Heroics umbrella are Gridiron Heroics and Wisconsin Heroics.
Sabel has been working as a field reporter for People’s Television Network (PTV), mainly about the Philippine Basketball Association since 2016 and has been elevated to Executive Producer for sports in 2022. Aside from being on top of the Philippine sports scene, she is also a running enthusiast. You can also follow her on X at @SabelReyes2 and Instagram at @msabelreyes.
