Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese are undoubtedly two of the biggest names in women’s sports today. Ever since they made it to the WNBA, the two young stars have been making headlines on and off the court.
The two have also been often pitted against each other, thanks to their rivalry that started in their collegiate days.
Clark has been viewed as the more impactful player, and she has the numbers to back it up. According to a recent Los Angeles Times report, the Fever playmaker was responsible for 26.5 percent of the league’s revenue in 2024.
Reese, for her part, has been really active on social media and continues to use her popularity to grow her personal brand. She boasts a combined 10.7 million followers across X, Instagram and TikTok, all while getting several endorsement deals.
While there’s a debate about who is more influential between the two, a major publication settled the argument with its list.
Complex released its rankings of the most influential stars in women’s sports today, and interestingly, Caitlin Clark came out on top of it.
“Clark’s impact is undeniable,” Complex wrote. “Her presence alone boosts WNBA attendance by 105% compared to games without her, while road games featuring her Indiana Fever see an 87% increase in opponent home attendance. Her rookie debut sparked a staggering 200% jump in WNBA viewership, while Fever home games drew a league-high 186,000 fans last season, a 265% increase from 2023. Team uniform sales (of which Clark’s regularly sells out) skyrocketed by an astonishing 1,193% year-over-year.”
The publication also noted how Clark “has transformed the perception of women’s basketball,” helping develop the WNBA into a “revenue-driving powerhouse.”
As for Angel Reese, she came second behind the Fever sharpshooter. Complex highlighted her work and ventures on and off the court, as well as her status as the “most-followed WNBA player on Instagram.”
“Reese competed in the inaugural Unrivaled season and is a part-owner of DC Power FC in the USL Super League. Off the court, the Angel C. Reese Foundation empowers young girls through sports, education, and financial literacy,” the ranking stated.
Other WNBA players who made the list were A’ja Wilson (No. 5), Sabrina Ionescu (No. 6) and Cameron Brink (No. 8). Clearly, however, the level of impact Clark has had on the WNBA is unprecedented, regardless of how much her critics try to downplay it.
