It seems like Caitlin Clark's popularity was forgotten before the start of the season after an injury-ridden sophomore year, and Kevin Durant's company, Boardroom, also jumped on that bandwagon.

Before the new season started in May 2026, Boardroom released WNBA marketability rankings. They ranked A'ja Wilson first and Paige Bueckers second, over Clark, who was ranked third.

While everyone is entitled to their own opinion, the facts remain the same. The WNBA would not be as popular as it is now without the introduction of Caitlin Clark in 2024.

While we all know Clark's impact on the court for the Indiana Fever, some might argue that her impact off the court has added more to her legacy.

Clark's popularity was the main reason the WNBPA was able to negotiate a better collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the league for more lucrative contracts, reaching over seven figures for star players.

Moreover, the Indiana Fever is the only team to have all 44 of its regular-season games nationally televised, with 39 of them being played in NBA-sized arenas. All thanks to the Caitlin Clark effect.

Diving deeper into marketability, Clark's collaboration with Nike Kobe has always been a sell-out since her inception in the league. And with the Nike Caitlin 1 coming later in the fall this year, you can expect Clark's first signature shoe line to sell like hot cakes.

However, other metrics disagree with Boardroom. According to Covers’ new "WNBA Marketability Index 2026", Clark tops the league with a score of 83 out of 100, with Angel Reese coming in at second with 80.

Unfortunately, Clark is used to such low ratings and is also experiencing it on the court this season, thanks to her peers.

Caitlin Clark's Underwhelming Treatment Continues in Third Year

After a bumpy start to the season, Clark has led the Fever atop the Eastern Conference and is having fruitful individual performances, averaging 20.7 points and 7.8 assists. She recently set her career-high and a franchise record with 45 points against the Seattle Storm.

While she is easily one of the best guards in the league this season, her peers believe otherwise.

In this year's WNBA All-Star voting, while fans voted Clark as the second-best guard and the media voted her as the third-best guard in the league, the players controversially voted her as the eleventh-best guard this season.

However, Clark's focus remains on winning, not personal records. When asked about setting the Fever's single-game scoring record, she quickly redirected the conversation toward the team's larger ambitions.

"I mean, it’s cool. I don’t really care, I know what I’m capable of, and I know what this team is capable of. And it’s my job to help us win and be the best team in the WNBA. And I don’t think we’re there yet. So it’s my responsibility to help us get there. So we’ll keep working,” Clark said.

Clark is in sublime form, and she has the chance to show her peers why exactly she is not the eleventh-best guard in the league on July 25 in Chicago.

So, do you think Caitlin Clark will silence all her critics in the All-Star Game? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Joy Bassy

Edited by

Joy Bassy