The WNBA has entered a new era of visibility, profitability, and cultural relevance — and there’s no avoiding the central figure powering that surge. Ever since the 2024 draft, when the Indiana Fever selected Caitlin Clark with the No. 1 overall pick, the league has witnessed an explosion unlike anything in its history. Record-breaking attendance, unprecedented national TV ratings, and an accelerated expansion timeline have pushed the WNBA from niche coverage into the center of America’s sports conversation. And now, as momentum continues to build, one of the league’s most respected superstars is pulling back the curtain on just how transformative Clark’s presence has truly been.
Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier — perennial MVP contender and one of the WNBA’s loudest voices for growth — spoke candidly about Clark’s impact in a recent interview with Glamour. Her comments have since gone viral, sparking a heated nationwide discussion about influence, credit, and the league’s fast-changing identity. But Collier isn’t mincing words: she knows exactly what Clark has brought to the table, and she’s making sure the world understands it too.
Since Clark’s debut, arenas once half-filled are now selling out days in advance. Teams that previously struggled to draw local attention suddenly have national broadcasts circling their schedules. The Fever, once among the league’s bottom-feeders, now rival NBA franchises in merchandise sales. Even the WNBA’s expansion efforts — long delayed due to budget concerns — have accelerated at breakneck speed, with new franchises in Toronto and the Bay Area lighting up headlines. Much of that momentum traces directly back to Clark’s gravitational pull.
And Collier doesn’t hesitate to acknowledge it.
“She changed everything,” Collier told the magazine. “The fans she brought in, the visibility, the energy — it’s something we’ve never experienced before. And as players, we feel it every single night.”
Her praise didn’t stop there. Collier emphasized that Clark didn’t just bring new eyes to the league — she reshaped its economy. Higher ticket revenue, sold-out arenas, and an influx of corporate sponsors have opened new financial possibilities for players who have long fought for pay equity and infrastructure support. For years, WNBA players advocated for basic improvements — better travel, increased salaries, enhanced facilities. Now, with Clark’s massive fanbase flooding the market, those long-standing demands suddenly feel attainable in ways they never did before.
But not everyone is comfortable with giving Clark so much credit. Online debates have erupted, with some arguing that the WNBA’s progress began long before Clark’s arrival, driven by established stars like A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, and Sylvia Fowles. Others claim Clark’s disproportionate attention creates pressure and resentment among veterans who have carried the league for decades. Collier, however, sees no conflict — only opportunity.
“She didn’t build the foundation,” Collier clarified. “Our veterans did that. But she’s helping bring millions of new people to what those women built. And that matters just as much.”
It’s a nuanced take in a moment that has become increasingly loud, polarized, and emotional. Yet Collier’s voice carries weight — not just because of her accolades, but because she represents a generation of players who have waited years for the WNBA’s breakthrough. And if that breakthrough arrived through a young superstar from Iowa, Collier believes the league should embrace that reality instead of resisting it.
“To grow, you need lightning-in-a-bottle moments,” she said. “And Caitlin is one of them.”
As the WNBA storms toward another historic season, one thing is certain: the “Caitlin Clark effect” is no longer just a trending topic — it’s a structural shift, one reshaping the league’s future in real time. And if Collier and the rest of the league’s leaders are right, this is only the beginning of a transformation that could redefine women’s basketball for the next generation.
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