Caitlin Clark

Caitlin Clark has been one of the main characters—if not the main character—in women’s basketball’s popularity spike during the 2020s. At Iowa, she broke the NCAA all-time scoring record and led the Hawkeyes to back-to-back national title appearances. With the Indiana Fever, she has helped a sputtering franchise become a must-watch show that draws sell-out crowds.

Clark’s defining skill is her 3-point shooting—not only for how often she swishes beyond-the-arc shots, but also the frequency she releases from previously unheard-of distances. She’s also a proficient passer, setting the WNBA single-season assist record in her debut pro campaign.

From a business standpoint, Clark has signed on with blue-chip brands such as Nike and Pepsi Co.-owned Gatorade, featuring in their commercials on national sports broadcasts. Those deals have supplemented her middling first WNBA salary, which has an average annual value of $84,514.

Part of her long-term marketing power is her reach with young fans, who often arrive early to arenas before Fever games and hold up Clark-themed signs to signal their appreciation of her play.