Caitlin Clark: Lightning Rod, Franchise Anchor, The Blueprint
In just over a year, Caitlin Clark went from collegiate icon to the most talked-about player in the WNBA.
However, now, she’s earned a seat at the table in front offices too.
According to the 2025 WNBA GM Survey, Clark is the player general managers would most want to build a franchise around. Additionally, the league leader in assists was also voted the league’s best shooting guard, and tied with Chelsea Gray for best point guard.
One needs to let that sink in: one player, walking into her second season in the WNBA is being viewed as both the top floor general and the best scorer at her position.
There is a short list of players in WNBA history that have walked into this kind of institutional belief.
A Lightning Rod for a League in Transition
Clark’s rise to superstardom has been accompanied by unprecedented media attention — and, just as intensely, unfair backlash.
Fans and players alike have expressed frustration at what feels like outsized coverage, with some arguing that Clark’s marketing narrative has outpaced her professional production.
And yet, general managers are not buying into that criticism. They’re doing the complete opposite by doubling down. They don’t just see Clark as a player — they see her as a franchise.
This is not just about logo threes or record-breaking assist numbers. It’s about value. Vision. Clark elevates the Indiana Fever’s ceiling into a championship contender — and the league’s visibility into a cultural movement.
A national conversation.
Front-page relevance.
Indiana’s Investment
The general managers also voted the Indiana Fever as the most improved team and the most fun to watch. That’s more than a nod to Clark, it’s a reflection of the Fever’s larger vision.
Aliyah Boston gives Clark a dominant pick-and-roll partner. DeWanna Bonner and Natasha Howard offer veteran scoring and switchable defense. Even players like Lexie Hull, Sophie Cunningham and Damiris Dantas bring toughness and IQ.
The Indiana Fever is not the Caitlin Clark Show. It’s a deliberate rebuild with Clark as the centerpiece.
Still, GMs didn’t pick Indiana to win a title or make the Finals. The Fever are trendy, but not yet trusted. Clark’s game, like her team, is still under construction.
The Burden of Being First
In a league that’s always had to fight for attention, Clark’s spotlight feels like both a blessing and a battleground.
Clark’s become a proxy for debates about race, coverage, and equity in the W. For some, she represents the league’s long-overdue mainstream moment. For others, she’s a symptom of everything the league has ignored.
The truth lies somewhere in between.
What’s undeniable is that Clark is here — and she’s already central to how general managers imagine the future of the WNBA.
Being the “player to build around” isn’t just a projection — it’s a job she can do.
