The Indiana Fever star will step into a national NBA spotlight, joining NBC’s pregame coverage for two marquee games this season.
Caitlin Clark’s basketball calendar is expanding — not onto an NBA court, but onto one of the league’s most visible studio stages.
NBC announced Tuesday that Clark, the WNBA star and face of the Indiana Fever and one of the most recognizable figures in modern basketball, will join the network’s pregame coverage for the debut of “Sunday Night Basketball.” Her first appearance comes this weekend when the Los Angeles Lakers face the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Clark is also scheduled to return March 29, when New York visits the Oklahoma City Thunder.
NBC is billing Clark as a “special contributor,” placing her alongside host Maria Taylor and analysts Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady for pregame commentary on “Basketball Night in America.”
Sam Flood, NBC Sports’ executive producer, said the decision to bring Clark into the fold reflected both her stature and her comfort in high-profile environments.
“There’s no more iconic figure in basketball in the women’s game right now, or the game in general,” Flood said. “So, we said, ‘let’s have a bigger conversation.’”
Clark called the opportunity a natural fit, noting the chance to work alongside longtime NBA stars and an established studio crew.
“I’m really excited to be part of the Basketball Night in America crew this season,” Clark said. “Carmelo, Vince, and Tracy are legends of the game and Maria is a true professional. It will be really fun to join them a few times this season.”
The partnership also aligns with Clark’s existing business ties. NBCUniversal operates under the umbrella of Comcast, and Clark entered a marketing relationship with Xfinity in March 2024. She has appeared on NBC platforms before, including a cameo on Saturday Night Live last spring.
Flood said Clark’s transition to a studio role was an easy projection, pointing to years of media exposure and her reputation as a thoughtful communicator.
“She’s had cameras pointed at her for years,” Flood said. “After a game ends, she’s always a great interview. She’s always so thoughtful in everything she says. And to have the ability to do that on this platform, with this team, it’s going to be a lot of fun to listen to it.”
Clark’s broadcasting curiosity has surfaced before. She once went viral while attempting impromptu play-by-play during a Philadelphia Phillies game, unaware that Fever teammate Lexie Hull was recording her. The Phillies later invited her to try the role formally — a moment that hinted at a future beyond playing.
“She’s going to be in a basketball arena, like she always is, and in her comfort zone,” Flood said. “So, what better place for her to debut than in Madison Square Garden with this great team of talent around her? We’re confident she’ll thrive, because a basketball court is her second home.”
Clark’s NBC appearances come during a period of uncertainty on the playing side. She was limited to 13 games last season because of injury as the Fever reached the WNBA semifinals before falling to the eventual champion Las Vegas Aces. She returned to the court in December at a camp with USA Basketball women’s national team, but the timing of her next competitive game remains unclear amid ongoing labor negotiations that could threaten the 2026 WNBA season.
Whether Clark addresses labor issues during Sunday’s broadcast remains to be seen. Flood, however, offered one hint about her on-air role.
“We’re hoping to have Caitlin with a basketball in her hand,” he said.