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Caitlin Clark, the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year, has been named Time Magazine's Athlete of the Year, a testament to her transformative impact on women's basketball. The 22-year-old Indiana Fever guard, who entered the WNBA as the No. 1 overall draft pick after a record-breaking collegiate career, has sparked unprecedented interest in the sport.
Clark's final college game with the University of Iowa—a championship matchup against South Carolina—shattered U.S. viewing records for women's sports outside the Olympics, drawing 18.9 million viewers. Her influence carried into the professional level, where televised Indiana Fever games consistently broke WNBA viewing records. League attendance soared by 48% in 2024, with the Fever featuring in 31 of the 35 most-attended games.
"I've been able to captivate so many people who had never watched women's sports before and turn them into fans," Clark told Time. "People love the game, and this is the new normal."
Her debut WNBA season was as impressive as her collegiate career, where she became the NCAA's all-time leading scorer and led Iowa to consecutive National Championship appearances. In her rookie season, Clark averaged 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and a league-leading 8.4 assists per game, earning her Rookie of the Year honors and helping the Fever secure their first playoff appearance since 2016.
Despite her individual success, Clark faced setbacks, notably being left off the U.S. Olympic team for Paris 2024 after her team's 3–9 start to the season. The U.S. narrowly clinched gold over France without her, an omission that she said would "motivate me my entire career." Her sights are now firmly set on making the roster for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where she hopes to compete on home soil.
Clark's rising profile hasn't been without challenges. She has spoken out against online harassment directed at other WNBA players, urging her supporters to "stop the hate" and stand for unity. Off the court, her impact extends far beyond basketball, with fans thanking her for advancing women's sports and inspiring change.
Reflecting on her groundbreaking year, Clark described it as "historic." She added, "I'm just scratching the surface of what I can do—for basketball, for women, and for the world."
