The CBA deal is still in limbo, with fans eager to see their favorite stars back on the floor. A huge number of fans are waiting for Caitlin Clark to take the court following her limited availability in the injury-hit 2025 season. While some may see this as crazy fan following for the Fever playmaker, ESPN’s top executive, Susie Piotrkowski, called it addiction, using a ‘drug’ metaphor to describe her impact.
Earlier, New York Liberty’s owner Joe Tsai credited Clark for quadrupling WNBA viewership and revenue. The comment made by Piotrkowski clearly aligns with the notion.
ESPN Executive Labels Caitlin Clark A Gateway Drug
The WNBA continues to expand its fanbase with newer stars joining the league, who already made a huge impact in their college career. The player who initiated the movement was Iowa Hawkeyes’ star player, whose viewership ratings and attendance stats broke multiple records.
Explaining the impact in business sense, the VP of Women’s Sports Programming at ESPN, Susie Piotrkowski, said, “I say this in quite literally the most positive way possible: Caitlin’s a gateway drug for some people to women’s sports. If that brought you in, I’m going to keep you here.”
“I say this in quite literally the most positive way possible: Caitlin’s a gateway drug for some people to women’s sports. If that brought you in, I’m going to keep you here."
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) March 2, 2026
– Susie Piotrkowski, VP of Women’s Sports Programming at ESPN on an @FOS_Live summit last week. pic.twitter.com/nuC35h8cr9
She highlighted that as many fans as CC is bringing in and able to hold on to, it’s a job of the league and also presenters to keep hold of it and explain to them why this league is the best opportunity to invest. While the investment could be of any type, both financial or time, or even efforts and love too.
Scroll to continue reading
Trending WNBA News
The term ‘Caitlin Clark-effect’ emerged from such scenarios, with a massive influx of fans overwhelming the league and even broadcasters. Interestingly, former WNBA players are also now praising the 2024 rookie for another big impact on the WNBA.
Lisa Leslie Lauds Caitlin Clark For Uplifting WNBA’s Image
Forbes crowned the Fever guard among the most powerful women in sports, in its first-ever such list, highlighting her impact on and off the court. While everyone spoke about her influence in the WNBA, former basketball stars saw a bigger picture of it. Lisa Leslie and Sue Bird are icons of the league, who were part of the league’s early building process.
In a recent documentary, Lisa Leslie said, “Caitlin, she is a game changer and we have to give her, her flowers because what she has done and the popularity that she alone has brought.” Referencing the ‘Sunday Night Live’ jokes about the WNBA, Sue Bird said, “Now that we finally have crossed over and is no longer the butt of an SNL joke.”
Caitlin being a part of why the WNBA “has crossed over and is no longer the butt of an SNL joke.”
— ericaf455 (@ericaf455) March 2, 2026
Keep pushing women’s sports and women athletes to the forefront because they are exciting to watch.
Holly Rowe, Lisa Leslie and Sue Bird talking in the documentary “The Moment” pic.twitter.com/xIZ5jVxqHD
Although the commercials’ impact may fade over the period, the ‘image’ and ‘brand creation’ would last longer for the league and as per the vets, CC deserves credit for the same.