Caitlin Clark is the 'most popular athlete in America,' WNBA commissioner declares

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark's popularity ahead of the WNBA season is unquestioned and the league s commissioner put any debate to rest Thursday Clark and the Fever will play in nationally televised games this season more than the defending champion New York Liberty The Fever also stated a direct-to-consumer operation in partnership with Endeavor Streaming after Clark s memorable rookie season and unprecedented viewership of WNBA games in CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS COMClark may be just one athlete in a league of terrific basketball players but the numbers don t lie It is a balance but she's a generational talent WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert explained on The Bill Simmons Podcast No league is ever about one athlete but in this matter Caitlin brought tens of millions of new viewers into the W And there's no denying that impact Not just in the WNBA but the world of sports NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and I talk all the time about this She's the largest part popular athlete in America Engelbert stressed the balance there has to be because of a feasible exposure of injury pointing to JuJu Watkins knee injury in the women's NCAA Tournament WINGS' PAIGE BUECKERS REACTS TO MAVERICKS LANDING TOP PICK IN NBA DRAFT 'GOD MAKES NO MISTAKES'She highlighted other stars in the legue including Las Vegas Aces center A ja Wilson Liberty forward Breanna Stewart and Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier The Fever s first battle of the season is expected to draw huge ratings when Indiana opens the season against the Chicago Sky Angel Reese is another budding young star who finished behind Clark in the Rookie of the Year voting Follow Fox News Digital s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter