Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham recently discussed her All-Star teammate, Caitlin Clark, and her significant impact on the WNBA. Speaking on her podcast, No Hesitation, alongside basketball trainer Drew Hanlan, Cunningham made bold observations about Clark’s influence on the league.

According to Hanlan, Clark has played a key role in boosting WNBA viewership and global recognition, akin to Michael Jordan’s impact on the NBA and Tiger Woods’ influence on golf. Hanlan stated, “For the WNBA, I know you might get in a little bit of trouble, it is because of Caitlin Clark,” to which Cunningham replied, “It is so obvious, and that doesn’t mean there wasn’t greatness before her, it’s just like that’s when our game really started to go global.”

Caitlin Clark was the first overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft after a historic college career at Iowa, where she broke the all-time NCAA points-scored record, surpassing Pistol “Pete” Maravich. Since joining the WNBA, Clark has been setting league records and continues to elevate its profile.

Hanlan shared compelling attendance and viewership statistics on the podcast. Indiana Fever’s attendance has increased dramatically, from just over 2,000 people five years ago to an average of 15,109 per game this season. WNBA viewership on various networks has also experienced a significant rise, averaging 1.3 million viewers this season—five times more than five years ago. The league’s overall attendance has jumped from 2,600 people per game to over 11,000.

Clark’s arrival is a major factor in this growth. The league also benefits from new stars like Paige Bueckers of the Dallas Wings and Olivia Miles of the Minnesota Lynx. Their participation in the WNBA Playoffs is expected to further increase viewership and attendance as they compete for their first championship.