Caitlin Clark expected to influence the WNBA the way Tiger Woods changed golf

The GIST: Caitlin Clark is leading Iowa through March Madness as she broke another scoring record on her way to this weekend’s Sweet 16. As she draws GOAT comparisons, people are also recognizing her potential to transform the business of women’s basketball — WNBA CMO Phil Cook recently told SportsPro that she’s the next Tiger Woods. Just prodigy things.

The Clark Effect: In the interview, Cook noted how Clark’s decision to go pro is more akin to Woods’ decision than LeBron James joining the NBA. He said Tiger’s ascension transformed the PGA ecosystem, with golf undergoing a “renaissance” that will likely be replicated when Clark joins the WNBA. She already has affected the Indiana Fever, the W team expected to draft her No. 1 in April.

The Woods comparison: Simply put, Woods made golf cool and accessible to a new generation of fans, and his status as a golf prodigy brought a new celebrity atmosphere to the sport. Woods’ 27-year Nike partnership earned him about $660M, but it likely gave Nike much more. The company saw at least $22.5M in brand exposure during just the final round of his 2019 Masters victory.

• It’s well-documented that Clark is having a similar effect on women’s basketball by appealing to all demographics, especially young kids inspired by her game. And like Woods’ endless Nike sales, Clark has been tapped to help transform the collectibles market for WNBA athletes.

Zooming out: Tiger Woods is an example of how one generational athlete can transform a sport…but only if they have the proper infrastructure to thrive. Nike signed Woods before his pro debut, and many brands have already done the same with Clark, including Fever sponsor Gainbridge and State Farm, which has featured her in several commercials. Fever dream high.