Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have made a significant impact on the WNBA during their rookie seasons, with their on-court performance attracting record TV ratings and filling up arenas.
Now, they can add increased merchandise sales to their list of accomplishments.
The WNBA’s retail partner, Fanatics, reported to TMZ that they have seen a 500 percent increase in business during the first half of the season, along with a 1,000 percent surge in player-specific sales compared to last year.
Not surprisingly, Clark and Reese are the top two players in terms of player-specific merchandise sales.
These two WNBA stars have been making headlines and attracting attention wherever they go this season, with their rivalry driving even more interest in the league.
“Fan gear sales for the first half of the season are the highest in league history,” Fanatics confirmed to TMZ.
While Clark and Reese have not publicly fueled the rivalry narrative, their matchups have become must-watch events for sports fans.
During the recent WNBA All-Star Game festivities in Phoenix, both players showcased their skills, with Clark impressing fans by connecting with Reese on a no-look pass in the fourth quarter.
Reese shared her excitement about playing alongside Clark during the ESPN broadcast of the game.
“It’s so cool, I know when she gets the ball I’m running looking for the ball because I know she’s gonna throw it,” Reese said. “So, she’s been great to play with. I mean, the future — we’re going to be playing with each other a lot. Hopefully, in four years we’ll be Olympians together.”
These two stars are also top contenders for the WNBA Rookie of the Year award.
Among other players with high merchandise sales this season, Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu ranks third in player-specific sales.
This merchandise news comes as the WNBA finalizes a new 11-year media rights agreement with Amazon, Disney, and NBC worth $2.2 billion.
The second half of the WNBA season is set to begin on August 15.
