Basketball star Caitlin Clark (left) played alongside World No. 1 Nelly Korda (centre) and LPGA legend Annika Sorenstam (right) in her golfing debut at the ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge Pro-Am
America’s most popular professional basketball player, Caitlin Clark’s appearance at the Pro-Am of The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge, on the LPGA Tour, marked a significant crossover between women’s sports. Golf Channel adjusted its programming to showcase her rounds alongside World No. 1 Nelly Korda and the legendary Annika Sörenstam.
With a historic rookie season in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), Clark is now in the spotlight for generating massive buzz on social media, with a reported 34.7 million impressions on social media. This move highlights the growing mainstream interest in women’s sports, evidenced by the WNBA’s record-breaking viewership in 2024. The WNBA Finals drew 1.6 million viewers, a 115% increase from 2023.
Known for her record-breaking achievements in basketball, Clark’s venture into golf at 22 highlights an ongoing shift towards cross-sport visibility and collaboration, raising the profile of women’s athletics. As a Gainbridge ambassador, she also adds a new dimension to the LPGA, attracting attention from her vast fanbase, furthering the narrative of women’s sports transcending boundaries and creating new avenues for growth.
With the right strategies, women’s sports leagues can achieve lasting popularity and fan engagement, similar to the WNBA’s success. As Caitlin Clark continues to inspire audiences, the future of women’s sports looks bright, and the LPGA is in a prime position to capitalize on this cultural shift and grow the tour exponentially.