It’s crazy to be reminded of how seismic Caitlin Clark’s impact on sports is — both the good and the incredibly ugly

On April 19, 2024, a debate occurred about Caitlin Clark's future impact following her selection as the first overall pick by the Indiana Fever in the WNBA draft. One participant predicted her star would fade, claiming no one would care about her within a year. Another participant strongly disagreed.

A year later, on April 19, 2025, the debate was revisited. Evidence proved Clark's immense and enduring popularity. She retained legions of fans, significantly boosted Indianapolis's economy by an estimated $36 million ("Clarkmania"), and remained a topic of discussion even among critics and celebrities like Shane Gillis. Clark's influence was likened to transformative figures like Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods, as she continued to dominate the basketball world and reshape women's athletics.

Christine Brennan's new book, "On Her Game," chronicles Clark's rise from an Iowa phenomenon to a WNBA megastar. Brennan was drawn to the project because Clark consistently generated more national headlines than her male counterparts. A key example highlighted is the 2024 women's NCAA final (Iowa vs. South Carolina) drawing four million more viewers than the men's final the next night, an unprecedented event Brennan attributes directly to Clark's appeal.

The book details the whirlwind year Clark experienced and her profound impact. Her effect on the WNBA was immediate: her arrival in May prompted the league to switch from commercial to charter flights for teams, and many franchises moved Fever games to larger arenas to accommodate the surge in demand when Clark played.

Brennan's book emphasizes that Clark, a confident 22-year-old, was uniquely prepared for this moment. However, it also notes that the WNBA itself and its established media ecosystem, described as insular, protective of its status quo (majority Black, LGBTQ+, and hyper-focused on social justice), and historically ignored, were initially unprepared for the level of mainstream attention Clark brought. Some media members exhibited reluctance towards outsiders drawn in by Clark's fame.