Caitlin Clark ‘marketability’ ranking sparks outrage: ‘This list is laughable’

“This list is laughable. Aja is definitely the best player in the league but she’s not close to the most marketable. She’s 4th at best. Just look at actual endorsement deals. We all know that CC is by far the most marketable and angel. Reese is definitely above Aja. I mean this list is meaningless, but at least be honest,” one fan wrote in response to the list.

“The literal reason the league has what they have now is Caitlin Clark and pretending that’s not accurate is embarrassing. If this is marketing, there’s only one player really moving the needle in that league,” someone else added.

“Caitlin Clark is the most marketable player that the WNBA has ever seen in the 30 years of its existence… The fact that she is No. 3 on this list is very telling of why the WNBA didn’t see a profit before Caitlin was drafted in to the league..It’s not shade, it’s just the truth…” another fan added.

“I love the W and defend it most of the time, but holy hell sometimes the people around it say/do dumb stuff. Caitlin is the defining player in WNBA history, there will never be a player more marketable or impactful. We don’t need to pretend that’s not true,” someone else wrote.

While the fan opinion is clear and loud, others in the media seemed to disagree, as well.

On Saturday, Covers released its own marketability ranking. It’s not clear whether or not it was in response to the Boardroom ranking, but in any case, the Covers list was explicitly data-driven, and the ranking was much more in line with the fan consensus, with Clark at the top, followed by Reese.

“Caitlin Clark ranks No. 1 overall, leading the league in search demand, brand power, and on-court visibility,” Covers wrote in their own marketability rankings. “Backed by partnerships with Nike, Gatorade, and State Farm, she sits in a tier of her own commercially.

“On the court, she’s the league’s biggest draw. High usage, viral highlights, and sold-out arenas have made her the WNBA’s primary driver of attention — a reality now reflected in scheduling, with all 44 Indiana Fever games set to be nationally televised or streamed this season,” Covers continued. “That level of visibility is already shaping award markets as well, with Clark emerging as the early favorite in MVP odds this season.”

She may not be the best or most consistent player in the league – Wilson has more than earned that title – but it’s pretty difficult to deny that Clark has emerged as the most marketable.

Now, Clark has all the attention this season as she returns from an injury that sidelined her for most of last season. We’ll have to see whether or not she is able to make the most of it and cement herself as the face of the league.

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