Lynx's Napheesa Collier acknowledged Caitlin Clark's impact in attracting millions to WNBA.
Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier, who is having an MVP-calibre season in the WNBA, didn’t hesitate to shower high praise on Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark.
In an appearance on FanDuel’s Run It Back, Collier admitted that Clark put the WNBA on the map and helped attract a larger audience.
The 2023-24 season proved to be a game-changer for the WNBA as they attracted millions, be they viewers or dollars through the popularity of rookie Clark.
It is certainly the first time a rookie player has attracted so much attention and helped generate millions in sponsorships and revenue.
Collier, who set a big milestone on WNBA Finals Game 3, acknowledged Clark’s contribution and impact on the league and claimed that WNBA’s ‘Rookie of the Year’ should be among the highest-paid athletes.
“It’s just so crazy because the growth that Caitlin has brought to the game—the sheer amount of money that she’s making these teams, people are having to move their venues for when she comes to play,” Collier said. “And she’s getting paid like $75,000 a year… she should be one of the (top-paid) players in the world just for the sheer numbers she’s bringing.”
Also Read: Caitlin Clark Records: Every record set or broken by the WNBA Rookie of the Year
The numbers back Collier’s claim as well. NBA TV set record for WNBA single-game viewership eight different times this year and Clark featured in all of those games.
In 2024, the WNBA saw 23 games hit million views in viewership. Unsurpringly, Clark was involved in all but three of those 23 games.
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