Caitlin Clark March Madness commercials: Inside the Iowa star's ads for State Farm, Xfinity and Gatorade

David Suggs

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Caitlin Clark March Madness commercials: Inside the Iowa star's ads for State Farm, Xfinity and Gatorade image

Basketball players can cash in on March Madness in the name, image and likeness era of college athletics, and Caitlin Clark is chief among those benefiting from the event.

The women's tournament generates millions in revenue, and no player can match the star power of Clark. The Iowa senior has become a lightning rod for investment among the brands looking to boost their profile through the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

Clark is a firefly. She's captivated fans and companies alike with her impressive shooting, elegant ball-handling and sumptuous play-making skills. As this year's tournament continues, her influence is becoming all the more noticeable, both on and off the floor.

Feast your eyes on any NCAA Tournament commercial break. It's a good bet Clark will be there, lending her acting (and hooping) chops to some of the nation's biggest brands.

Here's what you need to know about Clark's March Madness television spots — namely, appearances in advertisements for State Farm, Xfinity and Gatorade.

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Caitlin Clark March Madness commercials

State Farm

State Farm has made Clark a frequent subject in their advertisements since she signed with the insurance company in October.

That includes her collaboration with Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat and Jake from State Farm in an ad campaign that had the trio masquerade as genies in the hopes of drawing interest into the insurance brand.

The company's latest television spot with Clark is perhaps its most touching. State Farm enlisted the services of Hall of Famer Lisa Leslie, who delivered a moving tribute to Clark as images of her basketball greatness flashed across the screen.

Here's what Leslie says in the commercial:

What does it take to achieve greatness? To rewrite history? And go places no athlete has ever gone before?

It takes passion. Heart. And a community that's there for you every step of the way.

State Farm is proud to cover greatness.

Commercials can come off as tacky and insincere. And although State Farm's goal of selling you car insurance remains clear, it is refreshing to see the company show a desire to honor the accomplishments of one of its most-talented partners.

MORE: Lisa Leslie on Caitlin Clark's accomplishments: 'We got the WNBA launched, and now it is these women's time'

Leslie certainly co-signed the sentiment.

"What she's been able to do on the court – becoming the all-time scorer in women's basketball in the history of the game – that's something historical that we're able to see in our lifetime," Leslie told TSN's Bill Bender. "Her scoring is a phenomenon. It's a phenomenon because of her ability to shoot the ball from the logo. That we haven't seen from a lot of men or women."

Xfinity

How many times does one search up their name on Google and instead find results for others sharing the same? Now imagine one of those results is one of the most famous athletes in the country.

Xfinity's latest ad poses that question to Caitlin Clark — a city planner from Scottsdale, Arizona. 

MORE: Sporting News Women’s College Basketball All-America Team

In the ad, Clark — the Scottsdale version — is presented as analogous to other, less effective cable providers. Meanwhile, Iowa's Clark is seen as reflective of Xfinity's service, one that's deemed quicker, smoother and more efficient than that of its competition.

Both Clarks got paid. Both Clarks got some spotlight. And it's a showcase that is clearly aware of its whimsical nature. That makes for a fairly compelling watch.

Gatorade

Another one Clark's March Madness advertisements sees her go back to her roots with Gatorade.

Clark and the sports drink company have a long history with one another: She was twice named Gatorade Player of the Year in her native Iowa during her high school days. Couple that with her collegiate brilliance, and it's little surprise why Gatorade signed the Hawkeyes gunslinger to a deal in December.

The ad featured clips speckled with women's basketball royalty, including Candace Parker, A'ja Wilson and Kahleah Copper. Clark gives a call to action for the young girls and women hoping to make their impact felt on the hardwood, too.

I was once that little Iowa girl who was inspired to dream big...real big.

And that dream was more than women's basketball. It was possibility that I turned into reality.

I'm still that girl from Iowa. But now, it's my turn to inspire.

If I can drop 40, you can drop 50.

If we can draw 56,000 fans, you can draw 57,000.

If I can sign with Gatorade, you can too.

A touching message to be sure, but let's be realistic: Not just anyone can be Caitlin Clark.

David Suggs

David Suggs Photo

David Suggs is a content producer at The Sporting News. A long-suffering Everton, Wizards and Commanders fan, he has learned to get used to losing over the years. In his free time, he enjoys skateboarding (poorly), listening to the likes of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and D’Angelo, and penning short journal entries.