INDIANA — Caitlin Clark has spent her first three WNBA seasons rewriting record books, and on Wednesday, she added a new kind of milestone to that list—one that had nothing to do with a stat sheet.
2K Sports officially announced that the Indiana Fever superstar will grace the cover of the NBA 2K27 Deluxe Edition, making her the first WNBA player in history to appear on a global, standalone premium cover for the franchise.
The announcement places Clark alongside two of basketball’s biggest names: San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, who fronts the Standard Edition, and Chicago Bulls legend Derrick Rose, featured on the limited Ultra Edition.
Breaking Barriers in Basketball Gaming
While WNBA legends like Candace Parker, Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird, Sabrina Ionescu, A’ja Wilson, and Angel Reese have appeared on special edition or alternate WNBA-specific covers in past releases, Clark’s feature breaks new ground. Her Deluxe Edition cover is part of the core, global retail release, placing her image on equal footing with her NBA counterparts.
“Being on the cover of NBA 2K27 is special because this game reaches fans all over the world,” Clark said in a statement. “To be the first WNBA player on her own global cover means women’s basketball gets to show up on that stage too, and I am proud to be part of that.”
Reflecting on the achievement in an interview, Clark called the moment “pretty surreal,” noting that growing up, she always looked forward to seeing who would land on the next 2K cover. She expressed hope that seeing a female athlete lead a major release will inspire young girls to see what is possible in sports.
A Historic Theme: No. 1 Picks & Unstoppable Impact
All three cover athletes share a distinct bond that ties into this year’s theme: No. 1 overall draft picks who went on to win Rookie of the Year.
- Victor Wembanyama (Standard Edition): The 2023 No. 1 pick and first-ever unanimous Defensive Player of the Year becomes the first Spurs player and first French athlete on the global Standard cover.
- Caitlin Clark (Deluxe Edition): The 2024 WNBA No. 1 pick, Rookie of the Year, and three-time All-Star starter continues to re-shape the landscape of women’s basketball.
- Derrick Rose (Ultra Edition): The 2008 No. 1 pick and youngest MVP in NBA history is celebrated for his electrifying career.
“Victor Wembanyama, Caitlin Clark, and Derrick Rose each come from different worlds, but they share the same obsession that has altered the trajectory of the game,” said Zak Armitage, Senior Vice President and General Manager of NBA 2K. “Clark is pulling up from the logo, not just redefining what range looks like, but the women’s game entirely.”
Dominating the Court in Year 3
The gaming milestone comes in the middle of a dominant third WNBA season for Clark. Bouncing back after her 2025 campaign was cut short to just 13 games due to injury, the point guard is posting career highs across the board:
| Stat Category | 2026 Season Average |
| Points Per Game | 20.7 PPG |
| Assists Per Game | 7.8 APG |
| Rebounds Per Game | 3.9 RPG |
| Field Goal % | 42.8% |
| 3-Point % | 33.3% |
Her performance has led the Indiana Fever back into playoff contention and earned her a third consecutive All-Star selection.
When asked playfully about her in-game player rating, Clark—who held a 96 overall rating in NBA 2K26—joked that she’d happily keep her 96 despite the previous year’s injury setback, while campaigning for teammate Sophie Cunningham to get a boost into the mid-80s given her league-leading three-point accuracy.
Release Date and Availability
NBA 2K27 is scheduled for a worldwide release on September 4, 2026. It will launch across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam, and Nintendo Switch 2.
Fans who pre-order the Deluxe Edition featuring Caitlin Clark ($99.99) or the limited Ultra Edition ($149.99) will gain Early Access starting a week early on August 28, 2026.
