Indianapolis banks $36 million off WNBA rookie Caitlin Clark earning a fraction in salary
WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark brought in millions of revenue to the city of Indianapolis in her first year with the Indiana Fever.
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Indiana Fever and WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark is helping the city of Indianapolis
When the Indiana Fever drafted Caitlin Clark with their first overall draft pick, they hoped her millions of fans from college would come over to watch her play. A season later, those millions not only turned to benefit her team, but the WNBA and the city reaped benefits too.
The signs were evident when Indiana Fever ticket prices multiplied even before her name was called by league commissioner Cathy Engelbert. Soon after, season tickets sold out, along with many away games where she was set to face off against other major stars.
Then the WNBA announced that along with ticket sales, merchandise sales, viewership and fan engagement were through the roof. In every single analysis showed that the 22-year-old’s impact was evident as women’s basketball continued to transform.
Indianapolis Star, a publication in her city of work, contacted renowned valuations expert Dr. Ryan Brewer. They wanted to get an idea of how much their favorite rookie impacted their city. After going through his valuations and then reconfirming them, author Dana Benbow revealed.
Clark is responsible for 26.5% of the WNBA’s leaguewide activity for the 2024 season, including attendance, merchandise sales and television. The most astonishing number of all is Clark’s economic impact on the city of Indianapolis, which Brewer says is upwards of $36 million.
Dana Hunsinger Benbow in the Indianapolis Star
This valuation shows that the city of Indianapolis will continue to receive a windfall in revenue as long as Caitlin Clark continues to be a part of the Indiana Fever. However, as is with every sport, players shift teams when they feel their current environment do not match their competitive goals.
Indianapolis should do everything to keep Caitlin Clark for the long term
The Indianapolis sports world has two other young stars in Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton and Colts QB Anthony Richardson. But neither of them manages to generate the revenues for the city as much as the Indiana Fever star does.
The franchise though has made their moves to ensure the NCAA scoring record holder has the environment to be competitive for the long term. That, and further lucrative deals could keep her from moving elsewhere. Dana Benbow quoted John Holden, a professor of business law at the Indiana University Kelley School of Business as saying.
Yes, it would make a ton of sense for Indianapolis to lock her up long-term at a million dollars a year.
Dana Hunsinger Benbow quoting John Holden
Holden knows it is easier said than done with the WNBA salary cap structure and her paltry wages. But his words could suggest that the city of Indianapolis should do more to keep Caitlin Clark. Be it through local endorsement deals, helping her family and friends etc.—whatever it takes to keep her in the city.
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Joseph Varghese
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