For years, people have tried to pit the WNBA against the NBA, but Caitlin Clark? She’s not here for it.
With the WNBA riding a wave of record-breaking success, the comparisons to the NBA keep coming, especially as the men’s league finalizes a $76 billion media rights deal. However, Clark believes it’s time to stop measuring the WNBA by NBA standards and start appreciating its unique growth.
And honestly? She’s got a point.
Clark on NBA Comparisons: “That’s Not Fair”
At the 2025 Cardiovascular Research Technologies meeting, Clark clarified her view of the WNBA’s position in the sports world.
“I’m not huge on comparing the WNBA to the NBA, I don’t think that’s fair,” Clark said.
Her reasoning? The WNBA is already exceeding expectations on its own, with TV ratings and attendance skyrocketing in 2024, and she has played a big part in it.
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“I think where the WNBA is right now, it’s pretty incredible. Most people wouldn’t believe it’s in the place it is right now.”
Meanwhile, the NBA is locked into a $76 billion media rights deal, securing its massive global footprint for the next decade. The gap in revenue and infrastructure makes direct comparisons unrealistic, and Clark knows that chasing the NBA’s model isn’t the key to the WNBA’s success.
“People ask where I think the WNBA will be in five years, and my answer is people didn’t even think we’d be here now. The sky’s the limit.” The WNBA is carving out its own lane, and Clark’s ensuring the focus stays there.
Clark’s Impact & Fever’s 2025 Hype
While Clark downplays the NBA vs. WNBA debate, she’s playing a huge part in shifting the landscape of women’s basketball.
Her Iowa games were off the charts, and now, as she leads the Indiana Fever, she’s bringing even more national attention to the WNBA.
But Clark? She’s locked in on team success. “My first goal when games start is to get my teammates involved,” Clark said.
Caitlin talks about her job as a point guard being to get her teammates involved first. She also talks about scripting the first 3 plays of the game pic.twitter.com/FUcsWO1aES
— correlation (@nosyone4) March 9, 2025
She explained how the Fever strategizes their first three plays before every game to set the tone. “You don’t want to come out firing right away, sometimes you do, but I think getting teammates involved makes things easier for me. It opens up the court more.”
With Clark at the helm, the Fever is shaping up to be legit contenders, and every game she plays adds to the WNBA’s momentum.
The NBA will always be a financial juggernaut, but Clark isn’t interested in chasing a dollar figure. Instead, she’s too busy helping the WNBA carve out its billion-dollar future.