**Caitlin Clark Is Injured — and the WNBA Is Feeling the Hit**
When Caitlin Clark was injured, the WNBA was shocked. Fans—especially those who paid big bucks to see her play—were devastated. But for the league’s veterans, it was a nightmare: A few weeks without Caitlin exposed what they’d been trying to hide. And it’s happening.
The economic impact is clear. A new report shows just how crucial Caitlin is to the WNBA’s success. The number on her value to the league is staggering—it could surpass **$1 billion** by 2025.
For Caitlin, there are two positives to this injury. First, it gives her time to recover and come back stronger. She’s played 185 straight games (139 with Iowa and 46 with Indiana) without a break, so it’s reasonable to take a break to take care of her body. She has a left quad strain and is expected to miss at least two weeks, which is about four games.
The Fever can manage this time around – facing the Mystics, Suns and Sky, who are all good enough. They’ve done the same with Sophie Cunningham, to protect their long-term health. Caitlin is likely to miss longer than four games, possibly as much as three weeks. And it’s heartbreaking for those who expected her to win MVP – just a few games missed could knock her out of the race for that title.
But her biggest impact is off the court. Her impact on the audience and revenue is undeniable. The June 7 game between the Fever and Sky was moved to the 20,000-seat United Center—just because of Caitlin. But now that she’s gone, ticket prices have plummeted. Some tickets went from $86 to $25 in just 48 hours. Fans are selling them off. The stadium could be half full.
TV viewership is also in serious jeopardy. The season-opening game between the Fever and Sky drew **2.7 million viewers**, but now many predict ratings could **drop by 85%** if Caitlin doesn’t play.
Caitlin Clark is the financial center of the entire league. According to analyst Ryan Brewer, she will account for **26.5% of the WNBA’s economic activity in 2024**, and that figure could reach $1 billion by 2025. No player has ever done that. She’s the “cross-border star” who brought the WNBA to the masses—much like Tiger Woods did with golf.
Even a Fever exhibition game against Brazil brought in **nearly $9.75 million**, with an average ticket price of **$650**. The Indiana Fever’s team value has grown from **$90 million to $340 million** just because of Caitlin—a nearly fourfold increase in a single year.
But while her influence is undeniable, there’s resistance within the WNBA. Some players, veterans, and even the media seem to resent Caitlin’s rapid and massive success. They complain about the number of games she’s been on, or the behavior of her fans. But the reality is: without Caitlin, the numbers are plummeting.
Another problem: refereeing. Recent games have shown Caitlin being played rough and not properly protected. In the Liberty game, the level of contact and the number of missed calls were so obvious that Fever coach Stephanie White had to speak out publicly about the injustice.
If the WNBA doesn’t improve its defense of its biggest star, all of its gains will be in jeopardy. And this injury could be the wake-up call the league didn’t want but needed. Caitlin Clark’s true role will become clear in the coming weeks.
