Caitlin Clark named Time’s Athlete of the Year

Caitlin Clark has been named Time’s Athlete of the Year for her exceptional achievements in women’s basketball. At just 22 years old, Clark’s impact on the sport has been profound, helping elevate both the WNBA and women’s college basketball through her remarkable performances. During her rookie season with the Indiana Fever in 2024, Clark not only won the Rookie of the Year award but also made history by being named to the All-WNBA first team, the first rookie to earn this honor since 2008. She also set records for points, three-pointers made, and triple-doubles, as well as breaking the WNBA league record for assists in a single season.

Clark’s influence began long before her WNBA debut, as she finished her college career at Iowa by setting the NCAA Division I women’s basketball scoring record, surpassing Hall of Famer Pete Maravich’s all-time mark for both men and women’s basketball. Her performances helped drive significant viewership for women’s basketball, with the 2024 NCAA women’s national championship game surpassing the men’s in TV ratings for the first time. The championship, in which South Carolina defeated Iowa 87-75, attracted 18.9 million viewers, surpassing both the NBA Finals and the World Series in terms of viewership.

The momentum Clark helped build carried into the WNBA season, where ratings for both the regular season and the postseason saw significant increases. The 2024 WNBA season marked the league’s most-watched regular season in 24 years, and the WNBA Finals achieved the highest viewership in 25 years, as the New York Liberty triumphed over the Minnesota Lynx. Clark’s Fever team was also part of this growth, setting attendance records, including a single-game record of 20,711 fans during a September matchup against the Washington Mystics. Overall, the Fever saw their highest attendance in franchise history, with 340,715 fans attending games during the season.

In addition to her on-court achievements, Clark’s marketability has skyrocketed. Last week, she debuted on Sportico’s list of highest-paid female athletes, with earnings totaling $11.1 million. While Clark’s WNBA salary is $100,000, her endorsement deals account for the majority of her income. Her remarkable ability to inspire both on and off the court continues to redefine women’s sports, and her growing influence highlights her significance in the broader cultural conversation.

As Time’s Athlete of the Year, Caitlin Clark’s accomplishments reflect her extraordinary talent and the ever-expanding popularity of women’s basketball. Whether breaking records, driving ratings, or earning significant endorsement deals, Clark has solidified her place as one of the most impactful athletes of her generation.

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