The Indiana Fever are riding a wave of momentum after Caitlin Clark’s buzzer-beating logo three sealed a dramatic win over the Washington Mystics. But it’s what happened off the court that has the entire WNBA buzzing.
According to sources close to the situation, Clark has been named to TIME’s 2026 list of the 100 most influential people in sports—an honor that insiders say cements her status as more than just a generational talent. The Fever’s social media team broke the news Tuesday with a post simply reading, “CC continues to shine,” but the implications, sources claim, could be seismic for the franchise.
What This Honor Really Means
TIME reportedly singled out Clark’s blistering start to the 2026 season—specifically her record-shattering pace. In just 54 career games, Clark became the fastest player in WNBA history to notch 1,000+ points, 250+ rebounds, and 250+ assists. The previous record holder? Diana Taurasi, who needed 62 contests. One league insider told us that the gap between Clark and Taurasi’s milestone “isn’t just a stat—it’s a statement that the face of the league has already changed.”
What makes the honor even more dramatic, sources say, is the context of Clark’s comeback. After missing the majority of her sophomore season due to injuries in 2025, she has reportedly silenced skeptics who questioned whether she could return to form.
Numbers That Demand Attention
Through 10 starts this season, Clark is averaging 18.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 7.9 assists, and one steal per game—numbers that, according to one scout we spoke with, “put her in the MVP conversation if the Fever keep climbing.” And there’s reason to believe the climb is just beginning.
Indiana currently sits at 6-5, good for seventh in the standings, but insiders say the team’s chemistry is clicking at exactly the right time. Their next test: a home showdown against the Chicago Sky on June 11 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. A win there, one Fever source suggested, “could jump-start a serious run up the standings.”
Not the Only WNBA Star on the List
Clark shares the TIME spotlight with other league titans, including A’ja Wilson, Nneka Ogwumike, and Aces head coach Becky Hammon. But according to multiple reports, Clark’s inclusion—at just 24 years old and with fewer than two full seasons under her belt—has fans and analysts alike wondering if this is just the beginning of something far bigger.
“She’s not just a player,” one unnamed league executive told us. “She’s a cultural force. This honor validates what we’ve been seeing since she stepped on the court.”
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