A STUNNING theory that Caitlin Clark could start her own league to go against the WNBA has ramped up.
The Indiana Fever superstar has made women’s professional basketball skyrocket in popularity over the past year.
Indiana Fever second-year guard Caitlin Clark’s stardom has led to her being the face of women’s basketball[/caption]
Over the weekend, Clark’s biographer, Christine Brennan, shared a shocking theory about the 23-year-old’s future in the WNBA.
The NCAA all-time leading scorer has helped the league see massive ratings and become the face of women’s basketball.
On the day Clark was named a captain for the All-Star Game, Brennan believes she can begin her own league.
“Nike loves her. She’s got Wilson, obviously. She’s got Gatorade,’ Brennan said on ESPN LA when asked about Clark.
“Even though the salary’s $76,000 for a rookie – it’s more this year now – she’s making $28 million from Nike alone, according to the Wall Street Journal. So she’s at $40 million, whatever.
Brennan continued, “OK, fine, she’s doing great. And if Nike said, “We’re going to make the Nike-Clark league,” it would obviously take a few years to get the arenas and whatever.
‘But you know the TV contract. I mean, it’s Caitlin.
“Again, the TV viewership, it’s Caitlin Clark. “It’s not Angel [Reese] and Caitlin. It’s Caitlin.
“… [Angel] doesn’t move the needle on TV ratings.
“… And they could do it. I think they could absolutely put it together in a couple of years. And I’ll stay on that because I agree with you.
“It’s fascinating and it’s doable because of the void in the vacuum of leadership the WNBA continues to exhibit.”
Clark’s presence on the WNBA helped the league pen a new 11-year TV rights deal with Disney, Amazon Prime, and the NBA, which is reportedly worth $2.2 billion.
The Iowa Hawkeyes product’s stardom led to her being asked to join Unrival, a startup 3-on-3 league player during the WNBA’s offseason.
But Clark ultimately turned down the offer due to a hectic year.
However, Clark has had a down sophomore season after a stellar rookie campaign.
Clark celebrates a win with her Iowa Hawkeyes teammates in 2024[/caption]
She has appeared in just 9 of 16 games due to injury.
And Clark’s numbers have dropped across the board.
She has averaged 18.3 points per game this season, compared to her 19.2 mark in 2024.
Clark has averaged 29.5 percent from three-point range compared to 34.4 percent in her rookie season.
Still, the Fever guard has been announced by the WNBA as an All-Star game captain.
Clark and Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier received the most votes, and the pair will draft from a pool of the other WNBA All-Stars to put together two teams for the event next month.
The WNBA All-Star will be on July 19 at Clark’s home stadium, Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.
