Ever since Caitlin Clark stepped foot into the WNBA, she has been more than just a basketball player. Her arrival instantly shifted the landscape of women’s basketball and ignited record-breaking numbers both on and off the court.

In her rookie season, Clark’s presence helped fuel a massive surge in WNBA popularity. The league averaged 657,000 viewers per game, while 22 games topped one million viewers across major networks like ABC, ESPN, CBS, and NBA TV. According to StubHub, ticket sales also skyrocketed by 93% from 2023.

But beyond the numbers, Clark’s growth as a player and cultural icon over two seasons has been extraordinary. And now, that influence has earned her one of her biggest honors yet.

What Is Caitlin Clark’s Latest Achievement?

It has recently been revealed that Clark has been named to Forbes’ list of America’s “25 Most Powerful Women in Sports”. The 2025 list celebrates figures who have reshaped the sports landscape, and Clark’s inclusion at No. 4 places her among legends such as Michele Kang, Serena Williams, and Gayle Benson.

It should also be noted that this marks the first-ever edition of Forbes’ list recognizing women who have excelled athletically and wielded remarkable cultural and economic influence.

 

Caitlin Clark is named on Forbes Americas Most Powerful 25 Woman in Sports list🥹

#4 Caitlin Clark Guard, Indiana Fever Athletes

Caitlin Clark has turned her record-breaking college basketball career into early dominance in the WNBA. Her estimated $8.1 million in income from… pic.twitter.com/vmJy20MR5D

— Krys🫶🏼 (@GaterGoggles) October 22, 2025

For Clark, achievements like this have almost become routine, but they never lose significance.

Her inclusion on the Forbes list cements her as a defining force in women’s sports. If we see Clark was responsible for driving 26.5% of the WNBA’s total economic activity in 2024. Add to that her record-breaking eight-year, $28 million Nike deal, and it’s clear she’s not just rewriting basketball history, but she’s redefining what’s possible for female athletes.

This recognition also follows a series of groundbreaking honors. In 2024, Clark made history as “TIME Magazine’s Athlete of the Year”, the first WNBA player ever to receive the title. Moreover, she also swept the “Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year” award.

The most interesting thing is that this latest accolade comes after what was arguably Clark’s most challenging season yet.

The 2025 campaign tested her resilience like never before. She missed 31 games due to multiple injuries, including a leg issue, a left quad strain, and a recurring groin problem, but she still managed to average 16.5 points, 8.8 assists, and five rebounds per game.

Despite her absences, the Indiana Fever finished the season with a (24-20) record, clinched a playoff berth, and even advanced past the Atlanta Dream in the first round. Their playoff run ended in the semifinals after a heartbreaking Game 5 loss to the Las Vegas Aces, which was made tougher by late injury and the ejection of Kelsey Mitchell and Aaliyah Boston.

Many fans and analysts agreed that if Clark had been fully healthy, the Fever might have been serious contenders for the championship. Still, there’s plenty of optimism in Indiana. During the team’s exit interviews, Clark revealed that she expects to be fully healthy by the end of October.

“My goal was the end of October. To kind of be out there and trying to get back to playing 5-on-5. I think that’s a very reasonable thing for me and you know I’ve been grinding as hard as I possibly can,” said Clark during Fever’s exit interview as per Scott Agness.

Earning Forbes’ recognition after such a turbulent season only reinforces her view within the sport as more than just an athlete — a trailblazer who keeps raising the bar.