*Clark recently broke the NCAAW all-time scoring record
*Clark, who plays for Iowa, has also given a boost to the Big10 revenue
*Her impact has been seen in ticket sales for Big10 tournament
Caitlin Clark isn’t just a draw for spectators; she’s leading the pack in NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) revenue. Clark has overtaken Colorado’s quarterback Shedeur Sanders as the athlete with the highest sales in NIL. Sanders is the highly-publicized son of legendary NFL player Deion Sanders. Papa Sanders also happened to be Shedeur’s coach throughout his college career.
Clark’s rise to the top spot in sales came after Fanatics began offering athlete-branded college merchandise in 2022, following the Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling in the NCAA vs. Alston case, which established the initial NIL guidelines.
Fanatics Reports Clark’s Record Breaking Pushed Her To The Top of Sales, NIL Revenue
Fanatics reported that Clark’s surge in sales was significantly boosted by a T-shirt featuring the phrase “You break it, you own it,” a slogan Nike used on social media to celebrate Clark’s record-setting performance.
Clark’s achievements have already secured her a place in sports history across various metrics. With Iowa’s potential return to the Final Four, a feat that may see them compete alongside powerhouses like South Carolina and possibly LSU (another team which has two of the NILs top-female earners on their roster), this season could mark one of the most lucrative in women’s college basketball.
In Cleveland, Ohio, anticipation is building not just for the hometown Buckeyes to reach the Final Four, but also for the massive impact that Iowa’s potential championship run could have. With over a month until the Final Four, hotels near the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse are already charging upwards of $500 per night.
The “Caitlin Clark effect” is undeniable, and her influence on both ticket sales & merchandise revenue underscore her significant impact on college sports, and the legacy which she will leave on the sport.
