# Caitlin Clark effect

> Clark's final Iowa title game drew a network-reported 18.9 million viewers.

- Owner: Caitlin Clark
- Kind: Moment
- Sector: Sports
- Seed date: 2022-02-07
- Observed peak date: 2024-04-16
- Date basis: Observed peak within the documented measurement window; not an all-time maximum.
- Spread Score: 29 (Niche, provisional), v1.2
- Mechanics: Platform jump, Controversy, Resale market, Pairing

## Summary

A fan's Michigan highlights post circulated in 2022. Iowa tournament runs drew record audiences amid resale demand and sponsor campaigns. Clark's WNBA arrival produced a Fanatics draft-night jersey sales record and further network audience records.

## Timeline

- 2022-02-07 — @BenDiamond14 (X) — Ben Diamond posted Michigan highlights and urged people to make Clark a household name.
- 2022-02-07 — SB Nation (Press) — SB Nation embedded Diamond's clip and reported more than 6,000 retweets and 26,000 likes.
- 2023-04-02 — ABC / ESPN (TV) — Iowa-LSU drew a network-reported 9.9 million viewers in the women's title game's first ABC airing.

The full timeline, metrics and sources are on the case page, or via the Pro API (https://howitspread.com/developers).

Canonical URL: https://howitspread.com/cases/caitlin-clark-effect

Cite as: How It Spread (2026). “Caitlin Clark effect.” Case HIS-01216. Spread Score v1.2: 29/100. Updated 2026-10-22. https://howitspread.com/id/HIS-01216