“Caitlin Clark is the golden goose.” This is how Stephen A. Smith described the rising star, and it’s easy to see why. Her presence in the WNBA has shattered viewership records, filled arenas to capacity, and created an undeniable buzz around the league. Even during the off-season, the so-called “Clark Effect” continues to make waves, with record-breaking sales of her memorabilia proving her star power. Early on, a billionaire company already recognized her potential, and as it gets into the limelight, fans are already speculating about another potential blockbuster deal on the horizon for Clark.

Recently, a devoted fan account dedicated to Caitlin Clark spotlighted an intriguing nugget of information by sharing a snapshot from an old report dating back to April. The report featured an interview with Kellyn Smith Kenny, the marketing chief at telecommunications giant AT&T, who had nothing but admiration for Clark’s talent. In the article, Kenny described Clark’s skills as generational, even comparing her influence to that of legends like Serena Williams.

 

The tweet read, “Great article from the Marketing Chief from AT&T from last year. They are HUGE CC Fans.” Later, the same account retweeted another old tweet from AT&T, where the company had dropped a comment under an Indiana Fever drill session post showing Clark hitting 25 straight threes. They had written, “Witnessing greatness.” 

With a staggering brand value of $158.65 billion, AT&T ranks 13th on the Fortune 500 list of the largest corporations in the United States. Given the company’s evident admiration for Caitlin Clark, fans are buzzing with speculation about the possibility of a groundbreaking partnership between the two in the future.

The impact of the “Caitlin Clark Effect” on the league is undeniable. Since her entry into the WNBA, Clark has not only boosted viewership to new heights but has also led to sold-out arenas and prompted other teams to move games to larger venues to accommodate the flood of fans. Her recent regular season game against the Washington Mystics broke attendance records, drawing an impressive 20,711 spectators. It’s clear that her popularity can do wonders for any organization.

The retweet from that fan account spotlighted AT&T’s comments about Caitlin Clark already sparked an intriguing conversation, noting, “Who knew AT&T was a Caitlin fan? There has to be a marketing deal somewhere in here! AT&T and Caitlin Clark—two of the best from long distance!” This playful speculation reflects the excitement surrounding Clark’s remarkable ability to draw audiences.

This made many fans believe that negotiations may already be underway as they commented if a partnership materializes, it could potentially bring in millions for the brand in the future. In this essence, comments like “I’m guessing there is already some talks behind the scenes,” and “This is probably AT&T’s comment in the effort to initiate partnership with CC which is smart and it make sense. With CC they’ll make millions,” came up.

The impact of Caitlin Clark’s presence was evident just last month. Following her playoff elimination, she was seen cheering for the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts at their home stadium. As soon as the team shared a video of her waving from the stands, their engagement on X skyrocketed, drawing attention after a period of limited fan interaction. This spike in activity highlights just how influential Clark can be for a brand like AT&T. Therefore, AT&T might have an idea about how beneficial luring Clark can be for them. Some fans dropped comments that echoed that they realize that AT&T trying its luck to lure Clark: “AT&T shooting their shot I see….🙌” and “Well played”

Well, it’s no secret that AT&T is a prominent sponsor of the Indiana Fever, with its logo proudly displayed on the front of the team’s jerseys. In fact, the Fever will host next year’s AT&T All-Star Game right on their home court. This connection has led one of the users to suggest that AT&T’s enthusiasm for Caitlin Clark may not be as groundbreaking as it seems; instead, it could simply stem from their sponsorship of her team in the league. The fan commented: “Lol I’m sure they are a sponsor for the fever because their brand is on the fever jerseys.”

As Caitlin Clark continues to redefine the WNBA landscape, her immense popularity and potential partnerships signal a thrilling future.