College basketball superstar Caitlin Clark has had an eventful week. On Feb. 28, in a game against Minnesota, the Iowa sniper guard surpassed former Kansas player Lynette Woodard as the best elementary school basketball player. Clark announced on social media that she would be participating in the WNBA Draft. On March 3, in a game between Iowa and Ohio State, Clark broke the all-time NCAA Division 1 record (men’s or women’s) set by LSU’s “Pistol Pete” Maravich. in 1970.
Clark will raise her scoring record to 3,685 points at the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament, which begins March 6 in Minneapolis. The NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament will continue later in the month with the championship game on April 7.
For the first time, the Big Ten announced that their seven-game playoff women’s basketball tournament at Target Center was sold out. The Big Ten expects more than 109,000 spectators to attend, up from 47,923 last year. In addition, as a component of the “Caitlin Clark Effect” this season, the University of Iowa has a full slot or set attendance records in 30 of its 32 games (home and away). According to Logitix, the average value of tickets for Clark’s record game in March is $3 $598.
Unsurprisingly, Caitlin Clark also attracted TV ratings. In its record-breaking game Sunday, Fox averaged 3. 39 million viewers, the most-watched regular-season women’s basketball game on television in 25 years. Earlier this season, some other Iowa-Ohio State games, on Jan. 21, averaged 1. 93 million viewers on NBC. It is the most-watched regular-season girls’ school basketball game since 2010. A game between Iowa and Penn State on Feb. 8 averaged 657,000 viewers, the most-watched women’s sporting event. Overall, women’s basketball games on BTN averaged 109,000 viewers during the season, a 74% year-over-year increase.
With Clark announcing he’ll compete in the WNBA Draft next month, he’s expected to be the first draft pick to come out during Indiana fever. Make sure Clark stays in the Midwest. (Clark was eligible for a fifth season in Iowa as his school career was impacted by COVID. )The likelihood of Clark signing up in Indiana next season has already led to an increase in the price of selling tickets for home games. Sports Business Journal reports that Indiana’s 2024 season opener at Connecticut on May 14 sold about 800 tickets in 24 hours. In India, Clark will sign up for last year’s No. 1 pick and the unanimous 2023 WNBA Rookie pick. Aliyah Year, Boston.
Michael A. Neuman, co-head of Playfly Sports Consulting, said, “Exactly 40 years later, the WNBA is about to experience its own ‘Michael Jordan’ moment. With her announcement of a draft appearance, Caitlin Clark is poised to take a rare spot as the most anticipated female student-athlete to make the jump to the professional ranks. The timing couldn’t be better, as women’s sports and women’s basketball in general are experiencing a pivotal moment, capturing the zeitgeist of a passionate and cultural movement. The 2023 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship game drew 9. 9 million viewers, up 104% from last year, an all-time high. Caitlin Clark’s social media fans outnumber 87% of current NBA players, and her presence at regular-season games has led many networks to record ratings.
Neuman adds, “Finally, Ally, a logo committed to supporting women’s sports, is expected to spend on both women and men in its media and marketing mix in 2024. The timing of your announcement may simply not be the best right now. WNBA, a revolutionary athlete with “Michael Jordanesque” qualities, in one of the world’s most complicated sports ecosystems. “History only provides answers to those who know how to ask questions. “The gigantic organization of stakeholders who are monetizing this moment certainly examine the playbook, as generational players only enter the league once per generation.
Last season, WNBA ratings and attendance increased. Average viewership for the 2023 WNBA regular season on ESPN/ESPN2/ABC and CBS increased 21% year-over-year. Records were also set in virtual platforms, social media, and sports betting. The league announced that WNBA games reached 36 million exclusive viewers, the total since 2008. ESPN’s WNBA Finals averaged 728,000 viewers, a 36% year-over-year increase and the largest in 20 years.
In terms of attendance, in 2023, the WNBA had 1. 587 million total viewers, the highest in thirteen years. The average game attendance of 6,615 was the most productive since 2018.
Despite this growth, WNBA salaries are only a fraction of what NBA players get. For example, the 4 most sensible picks in the 2024 WNBA Draft will get a base salary of $76,535 for their first season, incentives such as Rookie of the Year (plus $5,150). Currently, in the WNBA, the highest salary is around $250,000. For comparison, the minimum salary for an NBA player this season is $1. 1 million. The WNBA’s existing media rights contract will expire after the 2025 season.
In June 2021, in NCAA v. Alston, the U. S. Supreme Court ruled that the U. S. Supreme Court had ruled that the U. S. Supreme Court had ruled that the U. S. Supreme Court had ruled that the U. S. Supreme Court had ruled thatThe U. S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that NCAA regulations restricting certain education-related benefits for student-athletes violated federal antitrust laws. The end results of this resolution allowed student-athletes like Caitlin Clark to take their name. , symbol and likeness (NIL).
According to On3 Sports Information, which tracks the total value of student-athlete estimates, Clark’s total sponsorship deal is estimated to be worth $3. 1 million, the highest amount for any college basketball player.
Clark’s endorsement deals include:
· A Gatorade “You Can Too” ad. In the commercial, Clark gestures to encourage the next generation of basketball players. Gatorade also made a donation to the Caitlin Clark Foundation.
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· Along with Buick, Clark as part brand ambassador for the “#SeeHerGreatness” campaign for the car brand.
· Clark is also part of Goldman Sachs’ “10,000 Small Business Voices” ad campaign, which promotes improvement of the Small Business Administration.
Caitlin Clark’s prospects as a fan favorite and advertising icon are limitless. CNN reports that Fanatics has sold more Clark-branded merchandise “than any other male or female school athlete in the NIL era, in any sport, has sold since 2022. “In addition, according to Topps, at an auction last January, a Caitlin Clark card sold for $78,000, the most expensive women’s basketball card to date.
Zach Rosenberg, founder of Zach Rosenberg Consulting, says, “By breaking the all-time scoring record for all-time leading scorer in school basketball on the same weekend, LeBron James broke the all-time record in the NBA, highlighting the disparity between league salaries, mentions and media coverage. By turning pro, the door is open for brands in all categories and brands will be interested in making deals with Caitlin, not only because of her athletic prowess but also because of her reputation. achievements and talent, brands will be knocking on her door, as we saw with Simone Biles after her new Olympic victories.
On the eve of Caitlin Clark becoming the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer, Le Bron James becomes the first NBA player to score 40,000 career points. For the 2023-24 NBA season, LeBron James’ salary is $47. 6 million. According to Forbes, with an estimated “off-the-field” salary of $70 million, James will earn around $117. 6 million a year. In June 2022, Forbes reported that LeBron James became the first active NBA player to have a net worth of $1 billion. Michael Jordan, a billionaire ten years after his retirement.