Joe Lacob Credits Caitlin Clark for Helping Him Invest in $850 Million Valued Valkyries

While many point to superstar guard Caitlin Clark as the reason for this surge in women’s basketball, not everyone used to agree with that notion.

In fact, one of the first things she faced when she arrived in the WNBA was pettiness from those who felt she was lapping up the attention despite not having the accolades to match them.

They felt that giving her the credit was undermining the work put in by current and former players, who essentially laid down the path for her to thrive in.

Even though the likes of LeBron James, Charles Barkley, and a few WNBA legends tried to shut those naysayers down, the criticism did not stop.

Those jealous got a boost when one of the owners claimed that Caitlin Clark was not the only reason for this growth, and that the whole league should be celebrated.

However, time and again, numbers have proved against that logic, and the owner of the New York Liberty acknowledged that the Iowa native’s impact has helped.

Caitlin Clark. Very interesting. That’s like the Magic Johnson-Larry Bird moment, 1980. That’s what I equate it to. She’s that good, she’s that game-changing… So we detected that, plus we were personally ready to do this too.

Joe Lacob said

This was the Golden State Warriors’ owner making it clear that he agreed to invest $50 million to secure a franchise in the Bay Area after watching Caitlin Clark draw millions of fans.

Joe Lacob didn't want to pay the $50 million expansion fee for the @valkyries at first. Now they're worth $850 million just a few years later – pretty solid investment. pic.twitter.com/x8emEOMh0R

— Sportico (@Sportico) May 6, 2026

When the host of Sportico’s Invest West asked Joe Lacob whether he envisioned the WNBA growing this much, he agreed. Now, his Valkyries are worth $850 million.

Caitlin Clark is aware that basketball drives off-court growth

If this growth continues, the Golden State Valkyries could soon break the $1 billion mark, something that no one imagined would happen with a WNBA team.

When it comes to players, many of them are about to earn more than a $1 million a year. That is a far cry from the times when they had to battle for a roster spot just to earn in five figures.

But Caitlin Clark earns a lot more than the average WNBA player, in the range of $11-16 million. However, when speaking with Yahoo Sports, she acknowledged that none of it would be possible without the basketball aspect working for her.

If I don’t play basketball well, then none of this is going to come along with it… Your brand will continue to grow. You’ll have other opportunities. But I need to take care of things on the court first. And winning a championship is my main goal right now.

Caitlin Clark said

Last season, the 24-year-old sat on the sidelines for most of the time due to injuries. That may have given her this perspective, even though that time off had no impact on her earnings.

Other players might prioritize their off-court activities, but for Caitlin Clark, basketball is what enables her to garner all those endorsements.

Caitlin Clark and her Fever set to start season on Sunday

Caitlin Clark is already hoping that this season ends up being much better than last season. The Indiana Fever had a brilliant run to the playoff semifinals, but for her, it was all frustrating not to be out with her teammates.

On a personal front, the superstar point guard has prepared herself carefully enough to hopefully avoid injuries from obliterating her goals.

The 2026 season starts on Sunday with the Fever playing the second-to-last game of the night against longtime rival and close friend Paige Bueckers and her Dallas Wings.

The league has set it up as the start of their professional rivalry, which makes it extra exciting for her fans. Both sides met in the preseason, where the retooled Wings gave the Fever a sound beating.

Their fans will be hoping that at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, their support will help Caitlin Clark and her teammates get revenge on a new rival that will likely be a thorn for years to come.

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