Is the WNBA Caitlin Clark’s League Now? Team Owners, Legends, and Rivals Are Finally Saying What Everyone’s Been Thinking

Is Caitlin Clark about to take over the WNBA and make it her league? If you’ve been watching the headlines, the sold-out arenas, the booming merch sales, and yes—even the emotional responses from players, owners, and fans—you already know something seismic is happening.

The Indiana Fever rookie isn’t just playing basketball. She’s rewriting the blueprint of what women’s pro sports can look like in America.

Team owners from across the league are now going public with their praise—and in some cases, their envy—about Caitlin Clark’s game-changing impact. And when owners of rival franchises start sounding like fans, you know this isn’t hype. This is history in the making.

“We Wanted Her”—Even Rivals Can’t Deny It

Ted Leonsis, the owner of both the Washington Mystics and NBA’s Wizards, didn’t hold back when asked about Clark. His reaction? Pure admiration.

“We wanted her. She’d be great… she’s unbelievable,” Leonsis admitted in an interview that’s now making the rounds on sports media.

That kind of honest regret—openly wishing your team had drafted a rival rookie—shows just how rare Clark’s influence truly is. And the most telling part? Leonsis didn’t even need to bring up her skills. For him, the economic impact alone is already transformative.

“We have back-to-back Mystics games this weekend… 30,000 people will be coming to D.C. from Maryland and Virginia. That’s hotels, restaurants, tax dollars—it’s the Caitlin Clark effect,” Leonsis said.

This isn’t just about one player’s ability. It’s about one player reviving entire franchises and injecting adrenaline into a league that’s been struggling to find mainstream attention.

The Liberty Owner Speaks Out: “She Made the WNBA Matter Again”

Clara Wu Tsai, owner of the New York Liberty, took it further. From her perspective, Caitlin Clark has singlehandedly brought professional women’s basketball into the modern social media era.

“Social media allowed fans to follow Clark from college into the pros. That’s what the WNBA needed,” she said.

Tsai emphasized that Clark became a household name before ever stepping onto a WNBA court—a feat no other rookie has pulled off at this scale. And it’s working: the Liberty, once labeled a financial risk, are now part of a growing frenzy of ticket sales and television coverage.

Dwyane Wade Weighs In—From Angel Reese’s Podcast, No Less

NBA legend and part-owner of the Chicago Sky, Dwyane Wade, joined the conversation—but from a far more complicated angle.

In a striking moment on Unapologetically Angel—the podcast hosted by none other than Angel Reese—Wade walked the tightrope between admiration and empathy.

He acknowledged how the media treated Caitlin Clark and Reese differently, highlighting the narrative divide:

“Everyone has their own media story. Yours [Reese’s] went one way… Caitlin’s went another,” Wade told Reese.

Wade didn’t deny Clark’s impact. He couldn’t—her popularity is impossible to ignore. But he also recognized that the Clark phenomenon is exposing long-standing issues about race, media bias, and how we define “marketability” in women’s sports.

Renee Montgomery: “They’re Changing the Game Forever”

Renee Montgomery, co-owner of the Atlanta Dream, isn’t just watching this transformation from the sidelines. She’s fully embracing it—and putting her money behind the movement.

“There’s real demand. Real following. Jerseys. New fans. Clark and Reese are changing everything,” Montgomery said.

And she’s not wrong. For the first time in WNBA history, a rookie class has converted their loyal college followings into professional fandom. These aren’t just people watching highlights—they’re attending games, wearing jerseys, and buying season tickets.

Montgomery also made it clear: this isn’t just Caitlin. It’s Angel. It’s Kamilla Cardoso. It’s a generation. But Caitlin’s role? She’s the face of it.

Magic Johnson: “It’s the Beginning of a New Era”

Magic Johnson, part-owner of the Los Angeles Sparks and one-half of the most iconic sports rivalry in history, sees something familiar in the Clark-Reese dynamic.

“Caitlin is the most popular WNBA player—but she’s not the best. Not yet. Just like Larry and I weren’t when we entered the league,” Magic said.

For those who don’t remember, Magic and Bird’s rivalry didn’t just captivate fans—it saved the NBA. If Magic’s instincts are correct, Caitlin and Angel might just do the same for the WNBA.

And the best part? According to Magic, they’re only getting started.

Todd Boehly: “This Is Bigger Than You Think”

Todd Boehly, part-owner of the Sparks and majority owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, has no problem boiling it down to business.

“The women’s Final Four, with Caitlin Clark, had more viewers than the men’s Final Four. That says everything.”

To Boehly, the numbers don’t lie. When Clark is playing, people are watching. That’s all you need to know to understand the once-in-a-generation opportunity in front of the WNBA.

Sheila Johnson’s Controversial Take: “It Should’ve Been All of Us”

Not everyone’s thrilled with Clark’s spotlight.

Sheila Johnson, owner of the Washington Mystics, stirred controversy when she suggested Time Magazine made a mistake naming Caitlin Clark Athlete of the Year.

“Why couldn’t they put the whole WNBA on the cover instead?” Johnson asked, adding that focusing on one player “creates hard feelings.”

She then pivoted into an even more divisive statement, suggesting that Clark’s rise is exposing “stories of racism” in the WNBA. Her comments drew swift backlash from sports analysts and fans, who pointed out that Clark’s unprecedented impact isn’t about race—it’s about performance, popularity, and record-breaking reach.

Let’s be clear: Clark didn’t choose to be the face of the WNBA. Her play did.

The Real Rivalry: Media Narratives or Market Forces?

It’s easy to turn this into a Caitlin vs. Angel story. And sure, there’s tension—hard fouls, podcasts, social media subtweets.

But the real story? The owners are paying attention now.

They’re talking ticket sales, TV ratings, jersey spikes, and packed arenas. They’re comparing Caitlin Clark to the business models of LeBron James and Steph Curry. They’re no longer just investing in teams—they’re investing in personalities.

Caitlin Clark Didn’t Just Arrive—She’s Building the Future

Every major shift in sports begins with a player who redefines the league. For the NBA, it was Bird and Magic. For tennis, it was Serena. For golf, it was Tiger.

And now for the WNBA, it’s Caitlin Clark.

What we’re witnessing isn’t just a talented rookie scoring buckets. We’re watching a league flip its script—because one player proved she could bring America with her.

The question isn’t whether Clark’s impact is real.

It’s whether the WNBA is ready for the era she’s about to lead.