The Indiana Fever has turned into one of the most valuable teams in the WNBA since drafting Caitlin Clark first overall in 2024.
Clark’s impact on and off the court has been felt by the Fever, as well as the entire league. She’s not solely responsible for the sport’s growth over the years, but she’s a big part of it.
Entering their third season in the WNBA with Clark, the Fever are the only team in the league to have all 44 games on national television. They will also play 39 of their 44 games in NBA-sized arenas.
Indiana Fever Valuation Soars Over 500% Since Draft Caitlin Clark
GettyCaitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever looks onoks out as game gets set to start against the New York Liberty at Barclays Center on April 25, 2026 in Brooklyn, New York.
Before drafting Clark out of Iowa in 2024, the Fever were valued at $90 million by Sportico.
Fast forward to 2026, and the franchise is now valued at a whopping $560 million. They are now the third-most valuable franchise in the WNBA behind the Golden State Valkyries and New York Liberty.
The Fever were sixth in 2024, rose to third in 2025 and remained there in 2026. They had a valuation of $335 million last year, and their growth continued despite Clark’s injury-plagued campaign.
Clark played just 13 games due to several muscle-related injuries, including a couple of groin strains. She also suffered an ankle injury during her rehab, so the Fever ruled her out for the remainder of the season.
In terms of revenue, the Fever came in second to the Valkyries for 2026. They had a revenue of $52.6 million.
Caitlin Clark Among Highest-Paid Female Athletes of 2025
GettyCaitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever reacts after hitting a basket against the Atlanta Dream during the second quarter at State Farm Arena on May 22, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Despite being limited on the court and having a measly salary of $78,066 in her second season in Indiana, Clark came in 11th on Forbes’ highest-paid female athletes list for 2025.
Clark reportedly earned $12.1 million last year, with the majority of it coming from her sponsorship deals.
On the other hand, Kurt Badenhausen of Sportico ranked her higher at No. 6 on their own highest-paid female athletes list for 2026. The publication estimated her earnings at $16.1 million, just behind tennis stars Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Zheng Qinwen and freestyle skier Eileen Gu.
“The breakdown: $16 million from sponsors and $114,000 from her W playing salary and bonuses. In percentage terms, it’s 99.3% from endorsements and 0.7% from the WNBA,” Badenhausen wrote.
Some of Clark’s sponsors include Nike, Wilson, Gatorade, State Farm, Panini America, Xfinity, Gainbridge, Hy-Vee, Bose, Goldman Sachs and Buick. She was also the only WNBA player on the list, with Sabrina Ionescu falling short of the Top 15.
Indiana Fever’s Season Begins on May 9
After three preseason games, the Indiana Fever have a week to prepare for their season opener at home inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 9. The Fever are set to welcome the Dallas Wings, a team that beat them in the preseason.
Indiana had a 2-1 record in the preseason, winning against the New York Liberty and Nigeria National Team.
It’s going to be a matchup between two of the best young stars in the league, Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers.
Indiana Fever Valuation Soars Over 500% Since Caitlin Clark’s Arrival