Caitlin Clark continues to dominate headlines as she heads into her first WNBA season. While we wait for Clark to bring her game to the Indiana Fever’s court, here’s the latest on how she’s changing the women’s basketball (business) game.

Canadian Women & Sport released its latest data on Canadian fans today: “It’s Time: Unlocking the Power of Pro Women’s Sports Fans.” While the initial “It’s Time” report in 2023 mapped out the Canadian landscape for women’s sports development, this edition presents insight into the unique attributes of women’s sports fans in Canada.

We’ve got news for the “Caitlin Clark is taking a pay cut” crowd: She’s expected to hit another payday as she steps into the WNBA limelight. Recent reports indicate Clark is close to signing an eight-figure signature shoe deal with Nike worth over $20M with the potential for bonuses.

The business of women’s sports is exploding across the board, including for merchandise, which women’s sports fans are 1.5x more likely to buy. Supporters are lining up to buy expanded merch options, which is presenting tricky logistical issues for manufacturers. Here are some current examples showing how supply doesn’t meet demand.

The LPGA announced an extended partnership with energy corporation Chevron yesterday, which includes continued title sponsorship of the Chevron Championship through 2029 and a $7.9M prize purse this year.

The WNBA has come a long way from basketball’s problematic dress code and gendered expectations, finally allowing players the freedom to wear what they want. Women’s sports leagues are leaning into this now more than ever thanks to increased exposure, which makes athletes worthwhile investments for luxury brands.

The U.S. lost to rival Canada in OT in the gold medal match of this year’s IIHF Women’s World Championship last night in Utica, NY. The competition, which began in 1990 and has featured these two nations in the championship 22 out of 23 times, introduced a new element to the ice this year: the PWHL. Here’s how the pro women’s hockey league is impacting the game.

With March Madness over and many of the NCAA’s top players preparing for the WNBA Draft, the court will look different come fall. On top of that, the NCAA transfer portal rules might change soon to allow athletes to transfer more than once. With more than 1.1K players already entered, the transfer portal might get pretty crowded.

Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) announced plans Wednesday to launch its inaugural season in 2025. WER will be the first pro women’s rugby league in the U.S., replacing the existing semi-pro Women’s Premier League (WPL).

On Wednesday, international track and field governing body World Athletics announced it will award $50K to each event winner at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, becoming the first international governing body to do so. This will uplift athletics medalists who, until now, have been classified as amateurs and had to forfeit compensation opportunities.

The WNBA already believes Caitlin Clark will have a Tiger Woods–like effect on women’s pro basketball, so they’re betting big on her and the rest of 2024’s stacked draft class. On Monday, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert confirmed to CNBC that the league is looking to double its fees in its next media rights deal.

Viewership numbers from women’s March Madness prove the women’s game is thriving, yet significant infrastructure issues are still holding the tournament back from realizing its full potential (and revenue opportunities).