Heading into Monday’s WNBA Draft, Ice Dice’s supply to Caitlin Clark to play in his Big3 league nonetheless stands at $5 million for eight video games.
For Ice Dice and Big3 companion Jeff Kwatinetz—founder and CEO of manufacturing firm/document label/administration company The Agency—the profitable supply to hitch the Big3 subsequent season isn’t a advertising transfer. Very similar to drawing Procter & Gamble, Merck and Capital One as sponsors for the upcoming Big3 season, the supply to Clark is a enterprise resolution based mostly on uncommon alternative.
“It’s actually about being a fan: Being a fan of the sport, being a fan of my heroes, like Dr. J, Iceman, Rick Barry and Gary Payton,” Ice Dice advised ADWEEK. “And ensuring for those who’re gonna invite them to dinner, you higher not haven’t any fucking paper plates. Pull out the great things.”
And Clark requires the great things.
Clark units the bar
The numbers round Clark communicate for themselves.
ESPN’s record-breaking viewership throughout Clark’s March Insanity run with Iowa averaged 18.9 million in the course of the NCAA championship recreation and peaked at practically 25 million—a mean viewers bigger than any non-NFL sports activities broadcast past the Ohio State-Michigan soccer matchup.
Showcasing Clark’s star energy, the WNBA just lately launched its schedule of video games throughout broadcast and streaming companions ESPN, CBS Tv Community/Paramount+, CBS Sports activities Community, ION, NBA TV and Prime Video—which simply signed a multi-year rights extension with the league. These broadcasts embody 36 of the 40 scheduled video games of Clark’s presumptive crew, the Indiana Fever.
In truth, the E.W. Scripps Firm’s upfront pitch deck already touts the truth that the corporate’s ION channel will air extra Caitlin Clark Fever matchups (8) than another outlet.
“With the power and pleasure already generated by what we anticipate can be a star-studded rookie class, and on the heels of a 2023 season that featured one of many best MVP races in WNBA historical past and our most-watched common season in over 20 years, the WNBA’s broadcast and streaming companions are providing an enormous nationwide platform,” mentioned WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert.
