When Caitlin Clark suffered a left quad strain on May 25, 2025, the ripple effect across the WNBA was immediate and jarring. Ticket prices for Indiana Fever games plummeted by 42%, falling from an average of $137 to just $80. More dramatically, for the upcoming June 7th game against the Chicago Sky — previously moved to the 21,000-seat United Center to accommodate heightened demand — the lowest ticket prices dropped a staggering 71%, from $86 to $25. The injury didn’t just sideline the league’s brightest star; it exposed a serious vulnerability in the WNBA’s business model.

Clark has singlehandedly transformed the WNBA’s economic landscape. In just her rookie season, she was responsible for over 26% of the league’s total economic activity. With projections suggesting she could generate close to $875 million in economic impact for the league in 2025 alone, her absence is more than a setback — it’s a crisis. Television ratings, merchandise sales, ticket revenue, and fan engagement are all inextricably linked to her presence. In fact, 21 of the 24 most-watched WNBA games last season featured her, and games she played averaged nearly 1.2 million viewers — triple the league’s norm.

By contrast, the rest of the league has struggled to keep pace. The Chicago Sky, despite fielding high-profile rookie Angel Reese, remain winless and are now dealing with the fallout of relying on Clark’s star power to draw crowds. Their move to the United Center was a bet on Clark. Without her, they are left with tens of thousands of empty seats, resulting in significant losses on merchandise, food, and concessions — a blow to a franchise already struggling with fan engagement.

This scenario underscores a critical problem: the WNBA’s current growth isn’t broad-based. It’s concentrated around one transcendent figure. That model is not sustainable. While star-driven marketing is common in professional sports, the league’s dependency on Clark feels disproportionately risky, especially so early in her career.

Angel Reese, long positioned as Clark’s college rival and a new face of the league, has yet to demonstrate comparable drawing power. Her games without Clark generate modest interest, and her team’s lackluster performance has done little to elevate her standing. This highlights a stark gap in the league’s ability to cultivate multiple marketable stars. Without additional athletes generating similar buzz and audience investment, any disruption to Clark’s availability — like an injury — causes a systemic shock.

The consequences go beyond ticket sales. Broadcasters have centered schedules and ad inventory around Clark, while merchandise vendors like Fanatics have reported over 500% increases in WNBA jersey sales — mostly due to Clark. Remove her from the equation, and the league’s newfound success becomes deeply vulnerable.

This moment presents a crucial inflection point for the WNBA. The league must urgently invest in promoting other stars, crafting narratives that draw attention to different teams and players, and strengthening the overall product. Compelling rivalries, more competitive games, and strategic marketing are essential to building resilience.

What happens in Clark’s absence over the next few weeks will serve as a barometer for the WNBA’s true staying power. If fans tune out and attendance drops across the board, it proves the league has not yet built a deep enough foundation. But if the attention remains — if Angel Reese, A’ja Wilson, Sabrina Ionescu, and others step up — then perhaps this injury will mark a turning point, not a collapse.

Clark’s impact is undeniable. But building a sustainable, thriving league means building beyond her. That work must start now.