Fever have 335 million reasons to thank Caitlin Clark for astronomical growth

The Indiana Fever has seen extraordinary growth in the last two seasons of the WNBA, and by now most of us recognize why: drafting Caitlin Clark as the team's No. 1 overall draft pick in 2024 might have been the smartest thing the franchise's front office has done to date. That fact was underscored Tuesday, June 24, when the latest WNBA team valuations were published — and it became clear the Fever is now valued at $335 million, a huge increase from last year's $90 million.

Only a few short years ago the Fever still played games at Corteva Coliseum, a 6,500-capacity arena at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis. The team struggled to attract more than 1,000 fans per game and were known for their dismal records, season after season after season.

Things began to change for the Fever in 2023, when the team drafted Aliyah Boston at the No. 1 overall all spot, and there was obviously a tectonic shift in 2024 when Clark joined the team. That shift has been felt in every way, from the style of play to attendance to viewership to the attention that surrounds every move anyone associated with the team makes.

A valuation of $335 million is such a huge leap past $90 million that it's difficult to completely put into words. To the surprise of no one who has been paying attention, the Fever had the biggest valuation gain in the league (the team increased its value by 237%

And the Fever isn't the only team that has grown; as noted by Sportico, the average WNBA team is worth $269 million in 2025, an increase of $180% over last year's numbers. The entire WNBA is collectively worth $3.5 billion.

Increased value supports the players' demands

The news also serves another purpose: the WNBA's player's union will enter into negotiations with the league leadership this October when the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) expires. While the negotiation topics are still under wraps, players are expected to argue for increased salaries and more support across the board, including everything from healthcare benefits to facilities to the tools and people they need to be the best.

Teams will have a hard time arguing against those demands. After all, the growth in popularity in teams like the Fever is player-driven; as we've seen this season, if you take Clark out of the equation, viewership and popularity begins to diminish quickly. The league's owners and leaders would be wise to keep the reason for the growth in mind, especially in this era of the WNBA's continued evolution.