When Caitlin Clark entered the WNBA, you could feel the shift—rivalries ignited, storylines exploded, and ticket sales surged. Her presence turned regular games into must-see TV. Her matchups with Angel Reese now headline the league’s first-ever Rivals Week, and fans can’t get enough. But just as everyone settled into the Clark vs. Reese storyline, someone else threw her name into the ring—Saniya Rivers.

Drafted eighth overall by the Connecticut Sun, Rivers made her message clear—she’s coming for Clark. “Let’s go with Indiana, why not?” Rivers said, referencing the college game in 2022 when Clark scored 45 points against her North Carolina State team. Still, it was Rivers’s team that got the victory.  She added, “I would love the opportunity to match up with her again because I feel like my defense has grown since then. And my confidence has grown.” That’s a direct challenge.

And she wasn’t finished. “I wanna be the player that maybe tries my best to shut down the best players every night … Caitlin’s gonna be Caitlin,” she admitted, “but I’m not gonna get in my head … I would love to slow her down a little bit.” It’s a bold statement—but then again, Clark is used to taking on the attention, and she’s not known for backing down either.

Meanwhile, Caitlin Clark is continuing to do things no one else has done before. ESPN is televising the Indiana Fever’s preseason outing against the Brazilian National Team — the first time a WNBA preseason game will be broadcast nationally. That game, set for May 4 at Iowa’s Carver-Hawkeye Arena, sold out in just 45 minutes. For a preseason game. Let that sink in.

And this isn’t just a homecoming—it’s proof of her pull. The “Clark Effect” has been real. WNBA viewership is up 170%. Fans are tuning in, showing up, and buying in—and she’s the reason why.

Caitlin Clark’s Offseason Grind Sets the Stage for a Dominant Leap

After winning WNBA Rookie of the Year and helping the Fever end their nearly decade-long playoff drought, Caitlin Clark has already changed the franchise’s expectations. Indiana is now already looking like a real contender, with some even expecting a deep playoff run, and potentially close to a Finals berth.

Interestingly, Caitlin Clark didn’t take a break. She spent her off-season fine-tuning everything — strength, ball handling, mid-range finishing, 3-point shot, you name it. With projections having her at 37% or better from deep, defenses are going to have more to worry about. Her court awareness and scoring versatility should jump after having a full professional offseason. The expectations? She is expected to lead the scoring and be among the assist leaders. Clark is ready to “destroy teams” this season—and the spotlight? She’s not just used to it, she thrives in it.

Regardless of Saniya Rivers and others queuing up for their turn to try and slow her down, Clark’s looking ahead. The debates will rage on—Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese, Saniya Rivers—but Caitlin Clark is setting the standard. And if this preseason indicates what’s to come, she’s just warming up.