Indiana Fever G Caitlin Clark is “not only deserving of every opportunity but also has earned every endorsement deal that’s been placed before her,” but we “should not delude ourselves into believing her appeal as an influencer is based solely on basketball, because it’s not,” according to Jim Trotter of THE ATHLETIC. Clark’s attractiveness to local companies and national corporations is “heightened by the fact that she is a White woman who has dominated a sport that’s viewed as predominately Black; a straight woman who is joining a league with a sizable LGBTQ+ player population;” and a person who “comes from America’s heartland, where residents often feel their beliefs and values are ignored or disrespected by the geographical edges of the country.” Brand ambassadorship at her level is “not simply a commentary on someone’s athletic ability.” It is also a “reflection of society’s impact on who gets the biggest bags.” While the racial component when discussing brand ambassadors may “make people uncomfortable,” it is a “conversation that merits consideration.” It is “not surprising” that corporations are “lining up like fans” for Clark's services. It “makes perfect sense” that she has been hired to pitch “everything from home and auto insurance to performance drinks, from trading cards to supermarket chains, from automobiles to financial investment firms.” The topic of sexual orientation and identity is “as old as the WNBA itself” because of the league’s “sizable percentage of LGBTQ+ players.” It “remains an issue with some,” which “explains why Clark might be viewed even more favorably as an influencer.” The league “struggled in its infancy to find the right balance between promoting inclusivity and not alienating the broader community” (THE ATHLETIC, 4/25).
