In what can only be described as a masterclass in irony, Washington Mystics co-owner Sheila Johnson tried to downplay Caitlin Clark’s monumental impact on basketball — and got thoroughly schooled by X (formerly Twitter) users armed with receipts. TIME Magazine named the Indiana Fever superstar its “Athlete of the Year,” and apparently, Johnson felt this recognition was undeserved. Her proposed alternative? Slapping the entire WNBA on the magazine cover instead. Bold move, Sheila.
Johnson, who moonlights as the CEO of Salamander Hotels and Resorts, voiced her displeasure during a CNN interview, claiming that Clark’s honor overshadowed other “equally talented” players in the league. But the X community wasn’t having it. In response to CNN Sports’ post, a Community Note dropped a nuclear stat: 31% of the Mystics’ entire home attendance in 2024 came from just two games against Caitlin Clark and the Fever.
The Clark Effect: By the Numbers
According to the Washington Post’s Ben Golliver, the Mystics’ average home crowd in 2024 was a modest 4,998. However, when Caitlin Clark and her Fever squad rolled into town, those numbers didn’t just double or triple — they skyrocketed to an average of 20,522. One of those matchups even set a WNBA single-game attendance record of 20,711 on September 19. You read that right: a WNBA attendance record.
And it’s not just DC. Clark’s gravitational pull boosted attendance across the league. The Fever’s average crowd ballooned from 4,066 in 2023 to a jaw-dropping 17,035 in 2024, all thanks to their new sharpshooting phenom. Even the Atlanta Dream, historically the league’s attendance underdog, saw their numbers soar from 3,316 to 17,592 when hosting Clark and company.
It’s almost as if Caitlin Clark is the Beyoncé of basketball — wherever she goes, fans flock, money pours in, and arenas buzz with energy unseen since… well, ever.
TV Ratings: A Clark Masterpiece
The “Clark Effect” extends far beyond the arenas. Let’s talk about the eyeballs glued to screens when she’s on the court. Remember the 2023 NCAA finals where Iowa faced off against LSU? Clark and Angel Reese drew a then-record 9.9 million viewers. Impressive, right? Fast forward a year, and Clark smashed her own record. The 2024 NCAA title game between Iowa and South Carolina pulled in a staggering 18.9 million viewers. For context, that’s more viewers than some NBA playoff games.
And yet, Sheila Johnson thinks Clark’s impact isn’t that significant. Sure, Sheila.
From TIME to Forbes: A Trailblazer’s Double Crown
Within hours of being named TIME’s “Athlete of the Year,” Caitlin Clark received another accolade, this time from Forbes. The magazine included her in its “World’s Most Powerful Women” list, making her the first basketball player ever to appear on the ranking.
Oh, and she’s only 22. For those keeping score at home, Clark was the only person under 35 on the list, a milestone even LeBron James can’t claim (no shade, just facts). Forbes writer Maggie McGrath aptly summed it up: “Caitlin Clark is a lightning rod.” That’s putting it lightly.
The Final Whistle
Sheila Johnson’s comments have done little but amplify the glaring reality of Caitlin Clark’s dominance, both on and off the court. Sure, you can criticize the media for showering Clark with accolades, but the receipts don’t lie: from ticket sales to TV ratings, she’s carrying the WNBA into uncharted territory.
If the Mystics owner wants to argue against that, she might want to check her own attendance sheets first. Or better yet, maybe she should consider sending Caitlin Clark a thank-you card for turning the Mystics into a hot ticket — at least for two nights.
