When Caitlin Clark lit it up at Iowa, the world tuned in. But she didn’t just pull eyeballs — she pulled wallets.
Now, even in the pros, the aftershocks are still rattling the court. From March Madness to the WNBA, betting on women’s sports isn’t some niche side bet anymore. It’s booming. And sportsbooks are thriving. Clark got the ball rolling, and now everybody wants in on the action.
The Caitlin Clark Effect: From Hawkeye Heroics to a Betting Boom
Clark may have graduated from Iowa, but she left behind more than a legacy. Even as she suits up for the Indiana Fever, the ripple effect of her rise is shaking up how fans engage with the women’s game.
Take this year’s NCAA women’s tournament, for example. While attendance dipped just a smidge, betting interest was through the roof. According to BetMGM, total wagers on the tournament jumped 35% from last year. And if you stretch it back to the 2022-23 season, we’re talking about a wild 600% increase. That’s a shift in culture.
“She [Clark] got the ball rolling. … You didn’t see women’s basketball players in commercials five years ago,” BetMGM sports trader Hannah Luther said to RG. “Now? Five, six of them. Big TV coverage. More eyes. More bets.”
Clark might’ve started the fire, but others are keeping it burning. From UConn’s Paige Bueckers to USC’s JuJu Watkins, star power is overflowing. And guess what? Bettors are following them just as closely.
How Sports Betting Will Impact the WNBA and Women’s Sports
It’s not just March Madness getting love. The WNBA is sitting pretty, too.
When Clark made her pro debut last season, BetMGM reported a 96% year-over-year handle increase. That’s almost double the action. Sure, Clark drew much of the heat, but it wasn’t just about the Fever. Other teams and player props saw a huge lift as well.
And sportsbooks are taking notes. “We’re putting up player props and halftime bets earlier than ever this year,” Luther added. “We used to wait until the Elite Eight. Now? We’re all in from the start.”
Names like Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo, TCU’s Hailey Van Lith, and UCLA’s Lauren Betts all drew attention — and bets.
The WNBA season tips off on May 16, and you can bet that more action’s coming. From the Clark-fueled frenzy to an ever-growing pool of star talent, women’s hoops isn’t just trending, it’s transforming the game.