Caitlin Clark has done it again! From torching nets to burning her name into history books, the Indiana Fever sensation has now made it onto Forbes’ list of The World’s Most Powerful Women. That’s right—move over CEOs and world leaders; basketball royalty is here.
This revelation follows another feather in her cap: TIME Magazine crowned her Athlete of the Year. Clearly, Clark is on a back-to-back MVP streak for accolades.
Forbes editor Maggie McGrath summed up why Clark, at just 22, became the youngest—and first-ever basketball player—to grace this prestigious list:
“Everyone from Dawn Staley to analysts will say, ‘Caitlin Clark is a lightning rod. She brought more attention to the fact that women are playing at a high level… She stands as an example for what, aside from the elections, has been the other dominant storyline of the year, which is the power of female athletes.”
Dawn Staley, South Carolina’s coaching titan, couldn’t agree more. Staley had a courtside view of Clark’s meteoric rise back when her Gamecocks toppled the Iowa Hawkeyes for the NCAA championship. Yet, even in victory, Staley made it clear: Clark wasn’t just another player; she was the player.
Clark’s Electrifying College Finale
Let’s take a walk down memory lane to Clark’s final NCAA season. She didn’t just break records; she shattered them, stomped on the pieces, and turned them into confetti. The all-time points leader in NCAA Division I history (yes, men’s and women’s)—Clark drew eyeballs like a blockbuster movie.
The 2024 championship game between the Hawkeyes and Gamecocks wasn’t just a game—it was a phenomenon. With 18.7 million viewers glued to their screens, it surpassed the men’s finals in viewership. Imagine that: Clark versus Staley became basketball’s version of a Marvel showdown.
Although Iowa fell short, losing 87-75, Clark’s legacy was untouchable. She carried not just her team but the entire sport into uncharted territory of popularity.
WNBA Rookie Year: Records and Recognition Galore
Fast forward to her rookie year with the Indiana Fever. Clark became the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft—a foregone conclusion, really. What followed? Franchise records, league records, and enough highlights to keep ESPN busy for a decade. She even snagged Rookie of the Year honors, missing out on MVP by a whisker.
If there’s a Mount Rushmore of first-year WNBA players, Caitlin Clark’s face is already etched on it.
From Courts to Conferences: Clark’s Forbes Leap
Forbes placed Clark at No. 100 on their list, making her the youngest and perhaps the most unexpected name among global powerhouses. While others on the list are moving markets, Clark is moving nets, inspiring a generation, and redefining what it means to be a professional athlete.
Dawn Staley, asked by McGrath to comment for Forbes, didn’t hold back:
“She’s a unifier. She brought a different set of eyeballs to our game,” said Staley. Translation: Caitlin Clark is not just breaking ankles on the court—she’s breaking barriers everywhere else.
What’s Next for Caitlin Clark?
As the only woman under 35 on Forbes’ power list, Clark’s upward trajectory is practically guaranteed. She’s not just climbing the ladder; she’s turning it into a dunk contest.
Staley’s earlier prophecy that Clark would “lift the league” was spot on. And if you think 2024 was her peak, think again. The Fever guard is a walking highlight reel and an agent of change, wrapped into one electrifying package.
So here’s a tip: don’t blink. Clark is not just making headlines—she’s rewriting them. With TIME, Forbes, and the basketball world at her feet, who knows what’s next? Presidential candidacy, perhaps? Stay tuned.
