There have been many Caitlin Clarks in professional basketball, but there’s almost never been an NBA player capitalizing on her name.
Caitlin Clark’s influence has transcended the WNBA
Caitlin Clark’s influence has transcended the WNBA, permeating pop culture and NBA locker rooms. The Indiana Fever star’s $1 billion valuation in the sport has grown so large that even male pros are trying to catch the CC wave, one in particular with the perfect blend of timing, proximity, and self-awareness to make it work.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Jaylen Clark is the latest athlete to tap into what’s been coined “The Caitlin Clark Effect.”
The 23 year old guard announced ahead of the NBA’s 2025–26 regular season kick-off that he’s changing his jersey number to No. 22, the same number donned by the Fever’s two-time All-Star.
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“I wore 0 and then when Donte came … I gave the number to him,” Clark shared across NBA digital platforms. “And then I’m like, ‘I’m close to Iowa and Caitlin Clark,’ so I put 22. … Hopefully, I get some jersey sales.”
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Jaylen Clark is the latest athlete to tap into what’s been coined “The Caitlin Clark Effect.”
Interestingly, the Timberwolves’ G League affiliate, the Iowa Wolves, play just a few hours from where Clark had her record-breaking college career at the University of Iowa, reports the Mirror US.
This is also where Jaylen spent time recovering from his torn Achilles after being drafted in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft (No. 53 overall).
In 2024, Caitlin’s Indiana Fever jersey was the second-best-selling basketball jersey, trailing only NBA superstar Stephen Curry, according to Fanatics. Her star power shows no signs of waning.
Clark’s WNBA season shattered several league records, including the highest average attendance ever and a single-game record of 20,711 fans during a game between the Fever and the Washington Mystics, a game named in her honor.
In 2024, Caitlin’s Indiana Fever jersey was the second-best-selling basketball jersey(Image: Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
She has inked a signature line with Nike, with regional releases and a signature sneaker in the pipeline, and her appearances continue to elevate TV ratings and in-arena attendance.
Jaylen Clark posted averages of 4.1 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 0.9 steals in limited NBA minutes last season, shooting 46.7 percent from the field and 43.1 percent from three-point range.
ESPN Research indicates that as the contesting defender, he’s held opponents to 41 percent shooting, and was often tasked with guarding MVP and champion guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Caitlin missed nearly 30 games of the WNBA season due to groin and quad injuries(Image: Jasey Bradwell, NBAE via Getty Images)
During his G League stint with Iowa, Clark averaged 16.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.5 steals per game, hitting 44 percent from beyond the arc across four starts.
Coaches have lauded his toughness, film study habits, and resilience following his Achilles rehab, which mirror the mindset Clark has adopted on the women’s side.
Caitlin missed nearly 30 games of the WNBA season due to groin and quad injuries.
She was unable to participate in All-Star weekend, where she was named a team captain, and also missed the Fever’s semifinal run in the WNBA playoffs.