With the WNBA Draft approaching, what's next for Caitlin Clark?

Caitlin Clark’s college career ended Sunday with a loss to South Carolina in the national championship game. But the Iowa star’s popularity won’t go away.

“I know what’s next is soon,” he said.

Eight days, to be exact.

That’s when Clark will be in New York for the WNBA Draft, where she is expected to be the Indiana Fever’s top pick. After rising to national prominence during her collegiate career, there are already signs that she will make an impact in the professional league.

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What to know about the WNBA Draft

The draft will take place at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York at 7:30 pm (ET) on April 15. ESPN will broadcast the draft and it will also stream on Fubo.
Here is the order of the first round of the draft:

1. Indiana Fever
2. Los Angeles Sparks
3. Chicago Sky (via Phoenix)
4. Los Angeles Sparks (via Seattle)
5. Dallas Wings (via Chicago)
6. Washington Mystics
7. Minnesota Lynx
8. Chicago Sky (via Atlanta)
9. Dallas Wings
10. Connecticut Sun
11. Liberty of New York
12. Atlanta Dream (via Las Vegas)

What kind of impact will Clark have on the WNBA?

Let’s start on the court. Clark will have to work harder to get his shot, of course. (Don’t think these old-timers aren’t working hard to stop her.) But her seemingly limitless range and uncanny accuracy will still make her difficult to defend. Where she can have an immediate impact is with her passing.

She is already one of the greatest passers of all time in college and finished her career with a Division I record 1,144 assists. Clark’s teammates at Iowa weren’t always adept at converting her passes. Now imagine what Aliyah Boston, the 2023 Rookie of the Year, will do with Clark’s enthusiastic passing.

In terms of marketing and star power, the WNBA better be prepared. The Fever are experiencing spikes in ticket sales and the Las Vegas Aces have already announced that they will be moving to a larger stadium to accommodate more fans when they come to town. Last season, the Fever had the second-lowest attendance in the league, ahead of only Atlanta, which plays in a much larger stadium and averaged 85 percent capacity. The Fever is likely to be one of the most popular destinations for fans.

Similar to their experience at Iowa, the Fever’s road games should also post record numbers. The Hawkeyes sold out all but two of their games this season: home, road or postseason. His fans aren’t going anywhere.

Will she lose money going to the WNBA?

This narrative has been shot down several times, but still persists by some who disregard its supporting power. Clark has the most notable endorsement deals of any college basketball player. (You’ve seen the State Farm ads, right?) Those aren’t going away, and he’s hoping for a lucrative sneaker business.

GO DEEPER

Caitlin Clark’s business is booming. Here’s how her WNBA sponsorships line up

As the presumptive number one pick, he would be guaranteed $76,535 in his first season. (She did not earn a salary in Iowa.) She also stands to earn up to $250,000 in a league marketing deal and up to $100,000 in a team marketing contract if she opts not to play overseas next WNBA offseason. If she goes abroad, she can expect a lucrative contract with a team in Europe or China.

But with his marketing power, he is likely to sign even more endorsement deals.

Did Clark have to turn pro?

No. Like other seniors, Clark was granted an extra season of eligibility by the NCAA due to the pandemic disruption. She announced it in February. 29 that he would not return to Iowa City, raising the stakes to come out strong in the tournament.

Who else will be in the draft?

Look for the athletic one The post-tournament mock draft will arrive in a few days. But other potential stars are expected to hear their names called.

South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso, Stanford’s Cameron Brink and Tennessee’s Rickea Jackson are expected to be the top picks. LSU’s Angel Reese is expected to be picked around the No. 8 pick.