{"id":685543,"date":"2026-05-22T03:22:09","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T03:22:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/685543\/"},"modified":"2026-05-22T03:22:09","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T03:22:09","slug":"caitlin-clark-passes-lebron-james-in-jersey-sales-further-exposing-wnbas-marketing-problem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/685543\/","title":{"rendered":"Caitlin Clark passes LeBron James in jersey sales, further exposing WNBA\u2019s marketing problem"},"content":{"rendered":"

Just in case you were wondering whether the WNBA had finally figured out how to profit off its own Michael Jordan<\/a>, a quick reminder: the league\u2019s marketing department recently refused to even put Caitlin Clark on a promotional graphic for a primetime Indiana Fever game.<\/p>\n

The joke is officially <\/a>on them.<\/p>\n

Newly released Fanatics retail data proves that while WNBA executives keep downplaying Caitlin Clark in their marketing, fans are overwhelmingly spending their money on her anyway.<\/p>\n

CAITLIN CLARK\u2019S INDIANA FEVER SOLD 90 TIMES MORE TICKETS ON STUBHUB THIS YEAR THAN IN 2023<\/a><\/p>\n

Clark has officially locked down the No. 2 spot for the most basketball jerseys sold in the United States \u2014 ahead of global icons like LeBron James<\/a>, Luka Don\u010di\u0107 and Victor Wembanyama.<\/p>\n

The only player selling more jerseys than Clark right now? Golden State\u2019s Stephen Curry.<\/p>\n

Let that sink in for a second. A third-year WNBA guard is outselling LeBron James.<\/p>\n

Yet if you followed the WNBA\u2019s official marketing, you\u2019d barely know she exists.<\/p>\n

WNBA FINALLY EMBRACES CAITLIN CLARK\u2019S STARDOM WITH UNPRECEDENTED NATIONAL TV SCHEDULE<\/a><\/p>\n

The retail numbers surfaced just days after the league\u2019s social media department sparked backlash with one of the most bizarre promotional decisions imaginable.<\/p>\n

Ahead of a highly anticipated Fever-Storm matchup<\/a>, the WNBA posted a hype graphic featuring Seattle\u2019s Zia Cooke and Indiana rookie backup guard Raven Johnson.<\/p>\n

Noticeably absent? Caitlin Clark \u2026 the player driving record ratings, ticket demand and merchandise sales across the league.<\/p>\n

Fans roasted the league for somehow managing to sideline the most popular player in women\u2019s basketball while trying to promote women\u2019s basketball.<\/p>\n

As OutKick founder Clay Travis pointed out, the logic makes absolutely no sense in the context of sports history.<\/p>\n

\u201cWas Michael Jordan ever not the lead graphic on any Bulls game when he was a member of the team?\u201d Travis asked. \u201cYou can say this is a small thing, but I would guarantee you Bill Cartwright, Luc Longley & Bill Wennington never got the promo graphic over Jordan.\u201d<\/p>\n

BASKETBALL LEGEND SAYS CAITLIN CLARK\u2019S 3-POINT ONSLAUGHT LEFT HER SPEECHLESS<\/a><\/p>\n

Then Clark did what superstars do.<\/p>\n

Hours after being left off the graphic, she torched Seattle with a 21-point, 10-assist double-double<\/a> in an 89-78 Fever win.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Johnson finished scoreless in 17 minutes off the bench.<\/p>\n

Caitlin Clark, 24, is rapidly becoming one of the biggest draws in all of American sports. She helped fuel a reported 1,000% surge in WNBA merchandise sales<\/a>, turned Fever games into national events, and now sits behind only Curry in national jersey sales.<\/p>\n

And somehow, the league still treats her<\/a> like an afterthought whenever it\u2019s time to market its own product.<\/p>\n

The WNBA can keep trying to force-feed fans alternative stars if it wants.<\/p>\n

But until somebody else starts moving more jerseys than LeBron James, maybe it\u2019s time for the league to stop overthinking this, log back into Canva and put No. 22 back on the d\u2014 graphic.<\/p>\n

Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com \/ Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n