Caitlin Clark has been named Time’s Athlete of the Year following an extraordinary year in sports. The 22-year-old basketball phenom captivated audiences with record-breaking performances in her final season at Iowa and her debut season in the WNBA with the Indiana Fever. Clark became the first rookie since 2008 to earn All-WNBA First Team honors and set records for points, three-pointers, and assists during her rookie season. She also achieved the first-ever triple-double by a rookie.
Her college career culminated in smashing NCAA scoring records and even surpassing Pete Maravich’s Division I record. Her influence helped the NCAA women’s championship game achieve higher viewership than the men’s final, with 18.9 million tuning in. This visibility contributed to a banner year for women’s basketball, with the WNBA enjoying its most-watched season in decades and setting attendance records.
Clark’s success isn’t limited to the court; she debuted on Sportico’s list of the highest-paid female athletes, with $11.1 million in earnings, mostly from endorsements. Her achievements have propelled her into the spotlight, driving a new era of popularity for women’s basketball and solidifying her as a transformative figure in sports.
