Caitlin Clark, the Indiana Fever superstar, has lit the WNBA on fire in her rookie season with her unique brand of play and her overall aura. She has become the face of the league in her rookie year itself! She said to the world through her time on the court, “I am here; come watch me win.” Clark basically forced people to pay attention to the WNBA and her.
The WNBA as a whole has grown in the last couple of years, with the 2024 season being the most-watched season on ESPN platforms ever, averaging 1.2 million viewers, up 155% from 2023.
It has mirrored the increase in merchandise sales, as jerseys bought through Fanatics increased by over 500% compared to the same period last year. This growth has largely been facilitated by exciting rookies like Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark.
This spike wasn’t just about Clark—players like Angel Reese also brought new energy, with the Chicago Sky trailing only the Fever in team merchandise sales. Back in 2024, Clark and Reese helped fuel a reported 1,000% jump in player-specific WNBA gear sales, showing how their rivalry and star power began lifting the league even before their first pro tip-off.
Now, as they enter their rookie season in 2025, the momentum hasn’t slowed—merch sales, fan engagement, and social buzz all point to a new era for the W.
Who Are The Top Jersey-Selling Players This Year?
When the Indiana Fever opened its sale for Caitlin Clark’s jersey in July last year, it sold out within 15 minutes! The jersey was in two types: the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game Swingman Jersey in Black and the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game Swingman Jersey in Pink. The price was $130, which is not cheap but the Clark star power pulled in the customers. Clark outsold everyone but Stephen Curry in 2024. She beat out the likes of LeBron James, Luka Dončić, and Victor Wembanyama.
Here’s the deal: Fanatics, which tracks jersey sales across its platforms like Fanatics.com and WNBAStore.com, reported Clark as number two in basketball jersey sales from September to November 2024, behind only Curry.
LeBron James landed at fifth, while Luka Dončić was tenth, which is wild when you consider the NBA’s massive global fanbase.
Clark did this during the WNBA’s offseason, when NBA stars get all the spotlight. Some might argue Luka topped the NBA’s jersey sales on NBAStore.com, but that’s just NBA-specific—Fanatics’ broader data proves Clark outdid him and LeBron in overall basketball merch.
Clark is the only WNBA player on the list among the big boys in the NBA. She matched the most popular basketball players in terms of brand value in her first season in the WNBA itself.
Her $28 million Nike deal, complete with a signature shoe, puts her in the same league as LeBron, who’ve got their own Nike lines. Add her Gatorade and State Farm ads, and it’s no shock her jerseys are flying off shelves.
Despite coming from a league that is not on par with the NBA in terms of popularity, she created her own audience and has propelled the league to new heights.
How Much Worth of Caitlin Clark Jerseys Were Sold in 2024?
Clark was selling out jerseys even at the college level! She was the top-selling college athlete since Fanatics began selling collegiate athletic apparel in 2022, the website told CNN. This data included the college-level male athletes too, which just reinforces her popularity. As soon as she entered the WNBA, she began selling out merchandise there too. The exact amount for which the jerseys were sold is not public knowledge.
Caitlin Clark-related merchandise was being sold out minute by minute. Her Panini’s autographed jerseys, photos, and balls, which ranged from $449.99 to $999.99, sold out within just a few minutes. Her name sold merchandise worth $900,000 for Panini. The price of this merchandise is going to just increase from here along with her stature in the sport. Clark could certainly surpass Curry in jersey sales in the coming season.
Sport Bilder des Tages Indian Fever Caitlin Clark warms up before the first half against the New York Liberty at Barclays Center on Sunday, June 2, 2024 in New York City. PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxONLY NYP20240602504 COREYxSIPKIN
What Were LeBron James and Luka Doncic’s Jersey Sales in 2024?
LeBron James and Luka Dončić are two of the most popular stars in the NBA, with both of them now teaming up together at the Los Angeles Lakers. Since they have teamed up, their hype has multiplied, as in the Doncic fans have become LeBron fans and vice versa. This has positively impacted their overall careers on and off the field. They were in different teams last year so Doncic is 10th on the list, while James is a respectable fifth.
2024 was a year full of highs for the WNBA and Caitlin Clark, with her craze going through the roof. Clark will look to capitalize on her hype in the next one and continue giving outstanding performances with another popular rookie, Paige Bueckers, coming into the WNBA this season. The WNBA fans will hope they see both Bueckers and Clark on this list next year. The battle will heat up on the court as well as they will face off in the league.
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