The Impact of Caitlin Clark on Women’s Basketball
Over the past few years women’s college basketball has received unprecedented growth in popularity.
Many players deserve credit for this. On the pro level, Breanna Stewart, Candace Parker, A’ja Wilson, and Sabrina Ionescu are some players that come to mind. As for college stars, Angel Reese, Juju Watkins, and Paige Bueckers have begun to pave the way for athletes of the future.
However one name has stood out from them all. Caitlin Clark.
This season, Clark has posted career highs in points and assists, with 31.7 and 8.9. However, the main reason she has gained herself and the game so much popularity is how she scores.
That is because sinking 5 threes a game at just under 40% is not normal for a college athlete, and why she is being compared to some of the best shooters ever.
But one great star player can only do so much by themself. That’s where Angel Reese and LSU come in.
The recent rivalry between Clark and Reese has captivated basketball fans all across the world. Trash talk. Loaded rosters. Hyper competitiveness. It has all the makings for a great rivalry.
Last season, the Tigers were able to take down Clark and the Hawkeyes in the National Title game. It was the most viewed women’s college basketball game ever, with 9.9 million viewers, and the most viewed college basketball game(men’s or women’s) on ESPN ever.
Those numbers continued to rise this season, having the highest viewership of a season since 2008–09 and 37% more viewers than the prior year.
We also got to see Iowa and LSU face off again for a rematch in this year’s Elite 8. This time, the Hawkeyes got revenge with a 94–87 victory in one of the most, if not the most, anticipated college game of the year.
Oh ya and Clark? She put up an absurd 41/12/7 stat line with 9 made threes.
Only time will tell if this popularity will be able to translate to the WNBA, however. The league has seen a steady rise in viewership and attendance, just coming off their most popular season, but still struggle to compete for national tv time.
Clark, and many of her peers alike, have left an undeniable impact on sports and have changed the landscape of women’s basketball forever.
