INDIANAPOLIS — As Caitlin Clark enters her third season with the Indiana Fever, she is the most marketable player in the WNBA, according to a new study. But her college basketball rival-turned WNBA opponent Angel Reese isn’t far behind.
The two dominated Covers’ WNBA Marketability Index 2026, which ranks the most influential players in the WNBA, based on data and analysis of social reach, search demand, brand power and on-court visibility.
Clark scored 83 out of 100 on the index with perfect 100s in search demand, brand strength and on‑court visibility. Reese, with the Atlanta Dream, scored 80, overtaking Clark on the final category of social reach with a perfect 100 to Clark’s 46.
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The gap between the scores of Clark and Reese, and the three players that round out the top 5 is wide. Coming in at No. 3 is the Dallas Wings’ Paige Bueckers (67), the Las Vegas Aces’ A’ja Wilson (49) and Sabrina Ionescu (44). Clark’s Fever teammate Sophie Cunningham ranked No. 6 with 38.
When it comes to off-court partnerships and sponsorships, Clark “sits in a tier of her own commercially,” Covers says, having landed big deals with Nike, Gatorade and State Farm.
On the court, Clark is also the league’s biggest draw. “High usage, viral highlights and sold-out arenas have made her the WNBA’s primary driver of attention,” Covers says, “a reality now reflected in scheduling.”
The explosion in the WNBA, led by Clark, has resulted in tangible effects to the city where she plays. All 44 Fever games will be nationally televised or streamed this season, “a level of exposure no other market comes close to,” Covers says.
Across the league, things are changing, too. With two new teams, a revamped collective bargaining agreement leading to seven-figure salaries for top players and a rookie class loaded with high-profile talent, “the spotlight is no longer just on performance,” Covers says. “From viral moments to endorsement deals, certain players are driving attention at a different level.”
Reese takes her social reach and engagement to another level, “turning viral moments into a wide-ranging endorsement portfolio across fashion, tech and food brands,” the study says.
Rounding out the top 10 most marketable players in the WNBA, is the Los Angeles Sparks’ Cameron Brink (35) and Kelsey Plum (33), the New York Liberty’s Breanna Stewart (33) and the Chicago Sky’s Hailey Van Lith (32).
Bird, Magic repeat?
Clark’s and Reese’s dominance in the league is reminiscent of two players who ignited an explosion in the NBA, says Ryan Brewer, associate professor of finance at Indiana University Columbus.
“Along came Larry Bird and Magic Johnson and the rest is history,” Brewer said. “The NBA took off. It was like a sparkplug was sparked by those two gentlemen, and the same thing seems to be happening right now with a (handful) of these WNBA players, namely Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark. And together, they are igniting a firestorm of interest in the WNBA.”
As Clark’s rookie season ended in 2024, IndyStar asked Brewer, a renowned valuation guru in the field of finance, to analyze the economic impact she’d had.
By Brewer’s calculation, Clark was responsible for 26.5% of the WNBA’s leaguewide activity for the 2024 season, including attendance, merchandise sales and television. One of every six tickets sold at a WNBA arena were attributed to Clark.
Total TV viewership due to Clark jumped 300%, and 45% of total broadcast value came from Fever games. WNBA merchandise sales catapulted 500%, with Clark ranking No. 1 followed by Reese, again at a close second.
Follow IndyStar sports reporter Dana Benbow on X: @DanaBenbow. Reach her via email: dbenbow@indystar.com.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Caitlin Clark is ‘most marketable player in WNBA,’ but Angel Reese is a very close second
Reporting by Dana Hunsinger Benbow, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
