While the WNBA fandom was celebrating the Caitlin Clark spotlight, Engelbert was distracted by the noise in the dark. All this while, the majority of the WNBA fandom and people beyond that thought it was Caitlin Clark that had elevated the WNBA in terms of viewership and popularity, but Engelbert was staring the other way. “Caitlin should be grateful she makes $16 million off the court, because without the platform that the WNBA gives her, she wouldn’t make anything.” Engelbert allegedly told Napheesa Collier. However, that is wrong on multiple levels.

“These are players who have succeeded because of their own brand development and because of social media…These players have built these brands despite institutions that have tried to hold them back. For her to say that is not only inaccurate, but it points to so many reasons why the players are feeling the way they are about her.” Annie Costabile said on Front Office Sports Today.  Baker Machado replied, “Especially in an NIL environment where people like Caitlin Clark signed a lot of their deals even before they got to the WNBA.”

Caitlin Clark’s list of endorsements before she even touched a WNBA jersey is a long one. It started with The Vinyl Shop in August 2021, immediately after the NCAA started allowing college athletes to sign sponsorships, and brands came rolling through. Hyvee, Topps, H&R Block, and many more were all signed during her Iowa years, where she rose via her logo threes and impossible-looking passes. The Nike deal came in 2022, when she signed for two years before her reported $28 million 8-year deal in 2024. Even ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt blasted Engelbert for her ‘preposterous’ Caitlin Clark statement. 

“If she actually suggested Caitlin Clark should be grateful for what she makes off the court, that’s preposterous! Did you miss the Iowa years? Clark is the Tiger Woods tie that lifts all boats. And we know, this show is proof. The highest rating we have ever had followed one of her games at Iowa. The WNBA has benefited from her presence more than the other way around, even though this year Caitlin Clark was essentially lost to injury.” He said during Wednesday’s episode of SportsCenter.

While the WNBA does provide a platform, fans would likely watch Caitlin Clark regardless of where she plays. If she had decided to take the millions in paychecks from the Big3 (as reported), we could have seen that league rise through the ranks. Even today, she has an option to move overseas, earning more money from her paycheck while maintaining her endorsements. For now, those prospects seem far away for Clark as she has revealed national team commitment as a premier focus in the offseason. 

USA Basketball on Caitlin Clark’s Radar as She Recovers from Injury

Caitlin Clark was never 100% fit this season. Right from the word go, some sort of injuries followed her. The point guard finished with 4 soft tissue injuries and an ankle sprain. So, however much she tried, returning this season was always difficult. Now she will have her hundred percent focus on her recovery, but there is some ‘USA Basketball stuff’ in her schedule.

“There’s some USA basketball stuff I need to get ready for. And I need to be able to find some runs, and ways to play five-on-five, just so I can kind of get that feel back,” Clark said in her exit interview. “But more than anything, I think my main focus is really just getting my body healthy. And once we get back to five-on-five, just being able to test my body and making sure it’s in a good spot, where I know it’s gonna be able to hold up with everything that we think we’ve corrected to be able to know I’m in a really good spot there.”

As we enter the offseason, Clark has multiple opportunities to weigh her return. She has had a standing Unrivaled offer from Alex Bazzell for some time, or she can have an overseas stint, depending upon her progress. When it comes to national team commitment, the USA basketball team doesn’t have any tournaments coming up immediately. There is a qualifying tournament in March and a camp for the 2026 FIBA World Cup. Looking further ahead, there is the 2028 Olympics. The point guard is yet to represent the USA at the senior level, and considering how the 2024 Olympics situation turned out, Clark will want to put her best foot forward. Apart from her national team, Clark doesn’t know how her offseason will pan out. 

Clark further said, “I think you explore every opportunity. I haven’t made any decisions, and I don’t know what that’s necessarily gonna look like for me. Like I said, there’s some USA Basketball stuff that is probably my top priority right now, that I need to prepare for. And I think that will help me prepare for next season, too.”

Clark’s injury is delicate. She would want to prevent any future repercussions of her current injuries. Off the court, her role in the ongoing CBA debates will also be important. Back to her on-court fitness, there are debates about whether the lack of competitive offseason basketball contributed to her injuries in some way. If it’s true after investigating, Clark could explore opportunities; otherwise, the 2026 season will be the next time we will see Clark in action.