“No league is ever about one player.” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert made this clear just a couple of months ago, emphasizing that the league’s rising popularity can’t be credited to one star alone—even if that star is Caitlin Clark. Since the Indiana Fever rookie burst onto the WNBA stage, the “Clark effect” has been a fiery topic of debate. While Engelbert keeps the focus on the collective, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver wasn’t shy about recognizing Clark’s magnetic presence. Her off-season appearance at yet another NBA game didn’t go unnoticed, with Silver acknowledging the undeniable influence she brings to the world of basketball.

On Monday night, Gainbridge Fieldhouse had a little extra star power in the stands as the Fever#22 was spotted once again alongside her boyfriend, Connor McCaffery, enjoying the Indiana Pacers’ clash against the New Orleans Pelicans. Making the most of her off-season, Clark has been a familiar face at Pacers games, showing her support not only for Indiana’s NBA franchise but also for Tyrese Haliburton, a close friend of both her and McCaffery.

Fans couldn’t help but buzz when a video of the duo captured from stands surfaced on X, captioned, “Yeah, I can’t focus on anything else lmao.” What started to feel like a regular sighting at Pacers games got an exciting twist Monday night, thanks to a special guest. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver was in the building. He made an appearance on Pacers TV, taking a moment to highlight Caitlin Clark’s remarkable impact on the WNBA.

Indiana beat reporter Scott Agness shared the commissioner’s words on X, tweeting, “Adam Silver on Pacers TV: ‘Caitlin Clark set the world on fire, not just this community. She’s brought so much attention to the entire league. People are seeing how deep this league is, how good the quality of basketball is. … It’s wonderful to see.’”

Participate in our 5 min
survey & Win $50 gift card

The NBA commissioner’s remarks offered a striking contrast to Cathy Engelbert’s earlier statement. Such a spotlight on Clark might stir mixed feelings among a few and their fans who have long contributed to the league’s growth. That said, there’s no denying Clark’s influence.

Her presence has propelled both the WNBA and the Indiana Fever to a record-breaking season, with viewership and ticket sales reaching all-time highs. While the Iowa alumna’s final regular season game even set an attendance record in Washington, the momentum carried into the playoffs. In the first round of her rookie year, her last game shattered an ESPN viewership record, attracting over 2.5 million viewers. Well, Cathy Engelbert has also recognized Caitlin Clark’s impact, though her approach has been more measured and neutral.

 

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s balanced perspective on Caitlin Clark’s impact

In a September interview with CBS News’ Jon Wertheim, WNBA President Cathy Engelbert discussed the state of the league and her key takeaways. When the topic turned to Caitlin Clark, Engelbert acknowledged her but also highlighted other rookies, prompting Wertheim to ask why she frequently mentions them when talking about Clark’s influence.

“No league’s ever about one player. That player could get hurt or whatever. So I think it’s just to give recognition that in sports, people watch for compelling content and rivalries. And you can’t do that alone as one person,” responded the WNBA president. However, before addressing the follow-up, Engelbert praised Clark’s talent but emphasized the impressive skills of other rookies.

USA Today via Reuters

“She’s (Clark) clearly an unbelievable player, came in with an unbelievable following, has brought a lot of new fans to the league. If you look at our historic season around– our attendance, our viewership, Caitlin, Angel too, Angel Reese, Rickea Jackson, Cameron Brink. This class of rookies, we will be talking about them a generation from now,” Engelbert had said.

The debate over whether Caitlin Clark should receive all the credit for the surge in popularity may continue, but the statistics so far show that the Fever star has played a major role in attracting a massive audience to the sport and Adam Silver’s appreciation isn’t wrongly placed.