The WNBA has never been more visible, and as the league reaches the All-Star break, the biggest stories aren't just coming from the court.
Caitlin Clark continues to dominate headlines, Angel Reese is expanding her brand through major partnerships, A'ja Wilson is starring in ESPN's new Life in the W docuseries, and players across the league are becoming fixtures in mainstream culture.
That shift is changing how star power is measured. Performance still matters, but search demand, social media reach, endorsements, television exposure, and cultural relevance are becoming just as important in determining who truly drives attention.
Covers created the WNBA Marketability Index to measure that influence, ranking the league's biggest stars using a blend of social reach, search demand, brand strength, and on-court visibility.
🔄 LATEST UPDATE (7-24): As the WNBA reaches All-Star Weekend, new endorsement deals, national television exposure, mainstream media appearances, and cultural moments continue reinforcing the league's growing star power. The rankings below remain based on the original Covers Marketability Index methodology.
🔑 Key Takeaways
- Caitlin Clark ranks No. 1 overall (CMI 83), leading the league with perfect 100 scores in search, brand, and on-court visibility.
- Angel Reese posts a perfect 100 social score and ranks No. 2 overall (CMI 80), highlighting the power of sustained online engagement.
- Despite signing a record $5 million deal, A’ja Wilson ranks fourth overall (CMI 49), sitting outside the top three in marketability.
- The next generation is entering the WNBA with built-in audiences, as Flau’jae Johnson (100 social score) and Azzi Fudd (100 search score) arrive with significantly higher visibility than typical rookies.
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Why Caitlin Clark’s No. 1 ranking matters right now
The first half of the WNBA season has only strengthened Caitlin Clark's case as the league's most marketable player.
Whether the conversation has centered on television ratings, sold-out arenas, physical play, officiating, or national media debates, Clark has remained at the center of it. Even on days she isn't making headlines for her performance, she's often the biggest story in the league.
That's why her No. 1 ranking isn't simply a reflection of popularity. It reflects sustained attention. Clark continues to lead the league in the areas brands, broadcasters, and advertisers value most: search demand, endorsement power, media visibility, and cultural relevance.
Angel Reese, sitting close behind at No. 2, reinforces another important trend. The WNBA is no longer powered by a single superstar, but by a new generation of players capable of driving conversation far beyond the basketball court.
Ranking the WNBA's most marketable players
Scores are relative within this dataset and weighted by category importance, meaning a perfect 100 is not required to rank No. 1 overall.
Caitlin Clark
Angel Reese
Paige Bueckers
A'ja Wilson
Sabrina Ionescu
Sophie Cunningham
Cameron Brink
Kelsey Plum
Breanna Stewart
Hailey Van LithThe numbers tell one story, but here’s how the WNBA’s biggest stars actually stack up in terms of attention.
Why Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers lead the rankings
Caitlin Clark (Guard)
- CMI Score: 83
Caitlin Clark ranks No. 1 overall, leading the league in search demand, brand power, and on-court visibility.
Backed by partnerships with Nike, Gatorade, and State Farm, she sits in a tier of her own commercially.
On the court, she’s the league’s biggest draw. High usage, viral highlights, and sold-out arenas have made her the WNBA’s primary driver of attention — a reality now reflected in scheduling, with all 44 Indiana Fever games set to be nationally televised or streamed this season.
That level of visibility is already shaping award markets as well, with Clark emerging as the early favorite in MVP odds this season
Angel Reese (Forward)
- CMI Score: 80
Angel Reese ranks second overall and leads the league with a perfect 100 social score.
She leads the field in reach and engagement, turning viral moments into a wide-ranging endorsement portfolio across fashion, tech, and food brands.
Her impact extends well beyond the box score, with major partnerships—including her own Barbie doll—and constant presence in league-wide conversations keeping her firmly in the spotlight.
Clark may be the face of the league, but Reese owns the social conversation.
Paige Bueckers (Guard)
- CMI Score: 67
Paige Bueckers ranks third overall, supported by 90 scores in both brand and on-court categories.
Bueckers entered the league with one of the strongest brand portfolios in women’s basketball, built through partnerships with Nike, Gatorade, and Bose.
That momentum has carried onto the court. Heavy minutes, strong usage, and a record-setting 44-point game highlight a player whose marketability continues to rise alongside her production.
The established stars chasing the top tier
A'ja Wilson (Forward)
- CMI Score: 49
A’ja Wilson ranks fourth overall despite a 95 on-court score.
Wilson’s on-court dominance is unmatched, with MVPs, titles, and elite usage anchoring her visibility. Strong brand partnerships keep her near the top, but slightly lower social and search demand hold her just outside the top three.
Even after signing a record $5 million deal, Wilson highlights the gap between performance and attention. That visibility continues to grow off the court, highlighted by the release of ESPN's Life in the W docuseries and her appearance on the cover of Vanity Fair's first-ever sports issue.
A’ja Wilson might be the best player in the world, but she isn’t the most marketable.
Sabrina Ionescu (Guard)
- CMI Score: 44
Sabrina Ionescu blends high usage with consistent exposure on a marquee Liberty team. Her signature Nike shoe and steady presence in big games make her one of the league’s most reliable on-court and commercial stars.
The next tier of WNBA marketability
Sophie Cunningham (Guard)
CMI Score: 38
Sophie Cunningham has become one of the league's biggest surprise marketability risers, with her physical style of play, outspoken personality, and viral moments helping expand her profile well beyond her role on the court. She’s not a primary scorer, but her presence consistently draws attention.
Cameron Brink (Forward)
- CMI Score: 35
Cameron Brink’s marketability is driven by crossover appeal and a wide-ranging endorsement portfolio. Injuries and a limited role have capped her on-court visibility, but the upside remains clear.
Breanna Stewart (Forward)
- CMI Score: 33
Breanna Stewart’s resume speaks for itself, with MVPs and championships driving her visibility. Her impact is more methodical than viral, which limits her reach compared to more highlight-driven players.
Kelsey Plum (Guard)
- CMI Score: 33
Kelsey Plum's scoring ability and emotional style translate well to highlights, but reduced team visibility has impacted her overall exposure. She remains a strong offensive presence with solid brand backing.
Biggest gap between hype and on-court visibility
Hailey Van Lith (Guard)
- CMI Score: 32
Hailey Van Lith’s brand and social presence continue to outpace her current on-court role. Multiple roster moves during the season have highlighted the gap between marketability and opportunity, yet she remains one of the WNBA's most recognizable young players thanks to an established following and strong commercial appeal.
Top incoming WNBA rookies by marketability
Rookie scores are based on social reach and search demand entering the league, and are rounded to the nearest whole number.
Flau'Jae Johnson
Azzi Fudd
Lauren Betts
Gabriela Jaquez
Olivia Miles
Kiki Rice
Awa FamFlau’jae Johnson enters the league with a bigger built-in audience than most established pros.
Flau’jae Johnson (Guard)
- CMI Score: 56
Flau’jae Johnson leads incoming rookies with a CMI score of 56, powered by a perfect 100 social score.
Johnson enters the league with a massive built-in audience, driven by her crossover appeal in music, media, and basketball. Her combination of elite social reach and strong search demand puts her in a tier of her own among incoming rookies.
Azzi Fudd (Guard)
- CMI Score: 44
Azzi Fudd follows with a perfect 100 search score, reflecting strong national interest entering the league.
Fudd’s search dominance reflects strong national interest following her college career, giving her one of the highest visibility profiles in the class. While her social following trails Johnson, she enters the league with clear star power and recognition.
Lauren Betts (Center)
- CMI Score: 14
Lauren Betts brings strong on-court expectations as a Top 5 pick and newly minted national champion, but her off-court visibility is still developing compared to the class leaders.
Gabriela Jaquez (Guard)
- CMI Score: 9
Gabriela Jaquez enters the league with a stronger built-in audience than several higher-profile prospects, placing her just outside the top tier of incoming rookies in overall visibility.
Olivia Miles (Guard)
- CMI Score: 6
Olivia Miles has a growing presence, but her overall reach and search demand remain modest entering the league.
Kiki Rice (Guard)
- CMI Score: 3
Kiki Rice’s profile is still emerging, with limited social and search traction relative to other top prospects.
Awa Fam (Forward)
- CMI Score: 1
Despite being selected No. 3 overall, Awa Fam enters the league with minimal social and search visibility, highlighting the gap between draft position and marketability.
How the Covers Marketability Index (CMI) works
The Covers Marketability Index (CMI) ranks players based on how much attention and commercial value they generate, combining four key categories into a single score.
Each player’s score is calculated using a weighted formula:
CMI Score = (Social × 0.35) + (Search × 0.30) + (Brand × 0.20) + (On-Court × 0.15)
📱Social Reach (35%)
Measures a player’s presence across major platforms, including follower totals and engagement on Instagram and TikTok.
🔍 Search Demand (30%)
Tracks how often a player is actively searched, using Google Trends data to capture overall interest and curiosity.
💰 Brand Power (20%)
Evaluates endorsement deals, sponsorship visibility, and presence in national marketing campaigns.
🏀 On-Court Visibility (15%)
Accounts for usage, minutes played, national TV exposure, and overall highlight frequency.
Scores are normalized within the player pool, meaning they reflect relative performance rather than raw totals.
The goal of the CMI is to capture how players drive attention across platforms — not just how they perform on the court.
WNBA Marketability FAQ
Caitlin Clark ranks No. 1 in the Covers Marketability Index, driven by elite search demand, major brand partnerships, and unmatched on-court visibility.
Marketability is driven by attention, not just performance. Social reach, search demand, and brand presence all play a major role alongside on-court production.
The CMI combines four weighted categories — Social (35%), Search (30%), Brand (20%), and On-Court (15%) — to measure how much attention and commercial value each player generates.
Flau’jae Johnson leads all rookies in marketability, entering the WNBA with the largest social following and strong overall visibility.
Yes. The CMI is designed to evolve as players gain attention through performance, viral moments, and increased media exposure.
