Here’s a deep dive into Caitlin Clark’s meteoric rise, her record-breaking All‑Star vote haul—now at nearly 1.3 million—and what it means for the WNBA and beyond:
- Record-breaking fan votes: Caitlin racked up an astonishing 1,293,526 fan votes, becoming the single-largest vote-getter in WNBA All‑Star history—and breaking her own previous record of ~700,735 from last year (the-sun.com).
- Surpassing even entire rosters: This year, she pulled in more votes than the entire 2023 All‑Star pool combined, which totaled around 1.17 million (essentiallysports.com).
Her influence is more than hype—it’s measurable. College viewership, Fever home attendance, jersey sales, and national interest have all surged since her arrival. In fact, WNBA All‑Star voting exploded 600% from 2023 to 2024, spurred largely by Clark’s arrival (pinkvilla.com).
In the early round of voting this year (June 20), she led with 515,993 votes—more than the entire first-round total from just two years prior—while the Fever had a staggering eight players in the top 40 (cbssports.com).
For the second straight year, Clark has been named an All‑Star captain. This is her first time actually serving in that role (last year it was honorary), and this year she’ll lead Team East at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on July 19, 2025 (the-sun.com).
- Napheesa Collier, star of the Minnesota Lynx, earned the second-most votes with 1,176,020, taking the West captain slot (reuters.com).
- In addition to Clark, Fever teammates Aliyah Boston, Kelsey Mitchell, and Lexie Hull also cracked the top 10 in fan votes—proof of her pull beyond just herself (sbnation.com).
- On July 8, Clark and Collier will draft their rosters from a pool of eight voted-in starters, regardless of conference. Coaches will later choose 12 reserves for the final 22-player rosters (reuters.com).
Clark is doing more than scoring points—she’s moving the needle for the entire league.
- Economic ripple effect: Ticket prices have surged in Indy and beyond, while TV viewership has grown exponentially (essentiallysports.com).
- Sponsorship & media deals: Caitlin’s star power helped the WNBA secure a $2.2 billion TV deal with Disney, Amazon Prime, and the NBA (the-sun.com).
- Endorsement magnet: She recently became the face of Nike’s “Mamba Mentality” campaign and sports custom Fever Kobe 5 Protro shoes (talksport.com).
With fame comes controversy. Some critics question the voting methods, noting the email-based system allows unlimited daily ballots, raising concerns of vote-stacking . Others cite debates—like the attention that Wendell versus Angel Reese historically drew—but this modern surge in WNBA visibility is shaping up to last.
Clark’s impact signals a cultural shift:
- Fan involvement skyrocketing (millions of extra votes annually).
- Media interest growing exponentially.
- Value recognition from brands and sponsors.
The WNBA and its stars are being elevated—and Caitlin Clark is leading the way.
Caitlin Clark’s record-breaking ~1.3 million All-Star votes aren’t just a headline—they’re a milestone validating her role as a generational figure in basketball. From skyrocketing league popularity to league-changing media deals, she’s at the center of a transformation in pro women’s sports.
Her first-ever captain’s role this July 19 in Indianapolis underlines that influence—not just as a player, but as a leader and spotlight for women’s basketball. As voting totals and fan engagement continue to climb, one thing is clear: the WNBA’s future is brighter—and louder—because of her.
