Caitlin Clark surpasses LeBron James in jersey sales, exposing WNBA’s sales crisis
In case you’re wondering if the WNBA has finally figured out how to monetize Michael Jordan, a quick reminder: the league’s marketing department recently refused to even put Caitlin Clark in a promotional image for the Indiana Fever’s first game.
The joke is officially on them.
Recently released Fanatics sales data proves that while WNBA executives continue to downplay Caitlin Clark in their marketing, fans are spending more of their money on her anyway.
CAITLIN CLARK’S INDIANA FEVER SOLD 90 MORE TICKETS ON STUBHUB THIS YEAR THAN 2023.
Clark has officially locked down the No. 2 spot for most basketball jerseys sold in the United States – ahead of world icons like LeBron James, Luka Dončić and Victor Wembanyama.
Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham of Indiana Fever. (Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark shoots over Seattle Storm guard Zia Cooke in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., on May 17, 2026. (Photos by Trevor Ruszkowski/Imagn)
Is he the only player selling more jerseys than Clark right now? Golden State’s Stephen Curry.
Let that sink in for a second. The third-year WNBA guard is ahead of LeBron James.
But if you followed the WNBA’s official marketing, you wouldn’t know it existed.
THE WNBA FINALLY WELCOME THE MIRACLE OF CAITLIN CLARK ON AN UNSEEED NATIONAL TV PROGRAM.
These retail numbers came just days after the division’s communications department sparked controversy with one of the strangest advertising decisions imaginable.
Ahead of the highly anticipated Fever-Storm game, the WNBA posted an image featuring Seattle’s Zia Cooke and Indiana backup point guard Raven Johnson.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark celebrates a basket during the first half against the Seattle Storm at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., on May 17, 2026. (Photos by Trevor Ruszkowski/Imagn)
Apparently there is none? Caitlin Clark … the player driving record ratings, ticket demand and merchandise sales across the league.
Fans are grilling the league for somehow managing to sideline the most popular player in women’s basketball while trying to promote women’s basketball.
As OutKick founder Clay Travis points out, logic makes no sense in the context of sports history.
“Wasn’t Michael Jordan the best draw at any Bulls game while he was a member of the team?” Travis asked. “You can say this is a small thing, but I can assure you that Bill Cartwright, Luc Longley and Bill Wennington never got a publicity photo beyond Jordan.”
BASKETBALL GIRL SAYS CAITLIN CLARK’S 3-POINT ATTACK LEFT HER SPEAKLESS.
Then Clark did what the stars do.
Hours after being left out of the picture, he ignited Seattle with a 21-point, 10-assist double-double in an 89-78 victory over the Fever.
Meanwhile, Johnson went scoreless in 17 minutes off the bench.
Caitlin Clark, 24, is becoming one of the hardest hitters in all of America’s sports. She helped drive a reported 1,000% increase in WNBA merchandise sales, turned Fever games into national events, and now ranks behind only Curry in national jersey sales.
And somehow, the league still treats it like an afterthought whenever it’s time to market its product.
The WNBA can continue to try to feed fans other stars if it wants to.
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But until someone else starts moving more jerseys than LeBron James, maybe it’s time for the league to stop overthinking this, go back to Canva and put the number 22 back in the d— image.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark warms up on the court before a WNBA game against the Seattle Storm on May 17, 2026, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. (Doug McSchooler/Special to IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
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