To get an idea of how intoxicating Caitlin Clark’s acting is, all you had to do was watch Sunday – if you weren’t near a television to watch her rack up 41 pointsdistribute 12 assists and grab 10 rebounds — scrolled Twitter.
Dick Vitale, the ESPN commentator who has watched a few superstars over his 40-plus years, wrote: “OMG I can’t believe what I’m watching in this lady 3S / SUPER – Sensational – Sparkling = CAITLIN CLARK! Much better than I thought. I heard so much about her from my buddy-partner Dave O’Brien and wow, he was on the money/she’s as good as it gets.”
Minnesota Vikings (and Iowa alum) tight end TJ Hockenson is also a fan. “Caitlin Clark is a walking bucket,” he tweeted. “Absolutely incredible.”
In the second half, as her Hawkeyes pulled away and everyone in Climate Pledge Arena went into triple-double monitoring, Clark became the No. 1 trending topic on Twitter.
Pelicans forward Larry Nance Jr. was impressedand short: “Caitlin Clark is ridiculous. »
Bottom line: She’s the superstar women’s basketball needs, just when the game needs her.
Saturday, women’s basketball bid farewell to UConn, the program that has made an NCAA record 14 straight Final Fours but will be watching from home in April. On Sunday, he saluted Clark, the most electrifying player in college basketball, men’s or women’s. His passes in transition provoke gasps, his tendency to get up from the logo makes opponents shake their heads.
She’s a transcendent talent, a player of the year candidate who uplifts everyone around her and loves the big stage. On Sunday, when Iowa built a lead of as much as 22 points, she played to the crowd, motioning for fans to cheer louder, cupping her ear to see if they obeyed. When later asked what it felt like to have an entire arena wrapped around his finger, Clark leaned into the mic and shyly admitted, “I feel pretty powerful.”
Indeed, it is powerful. Even more than she thinks, because it comes at the perfect time.
Women’s NCAA Tournament Recap:Caitlin Clark lifts Iowa to Final Four after LSU advance
New TV contract will change the women’s game
Women’s basketball is growing in popularity across the country as parity increases in college circles and the WNBA fields super teams through free agency.
And people are paying attention.
Last year’s title game between South Carolina and UConn attracted 4.85 million viewers, the most-watched title game since 2004. It was the most-watched cable program of the day , with a 30% increase in viewers compared to 2019. On Super Bowl Sunday this year, South Carolina’s No. 1 compared to then No. 1. 3 LSU attracted 1.5 million viewers, the largest audience for regular season women’s basketball since 2010. The 2022 WNBA season saw a 16% increase in viewership.
Next summer, ESPN will negotiate a new television contract with the NCAA, and the idea is that they will sell women’s basketball themselves (currently, the women’s championship is sold along with all other college sports championships outside football and men’s basketball). It’s a waiting source of money.
Now it’s one with a new superstar.
Clark has the ability to attract fans every time she steps on the floor. It thrives on the open ground, passing through traffic and stopping at 30 feet and beyond to bury jumpers. And while she plays with great boldness, it’s the joy of her playing that might be unmatched.
“That’s when I play my best basketball, when I’m having the most fun out of everyone on the court,” Clark said. “I play this game because I love it and because it brings joy to others, I don’t play to lift a trophy.”
Then, to let everyone know she doesn’t take herself too seriously: “I’m also a fun person off the field, maybe a little too goofy.”
Supports:See how the men’s and women’s NCAA tournaments played out
Play in front of the crowd while accumulating points
The natural comparison to Clark is Diana Taurasi, arguably the greatest women’s player of all time.
Taurasi is also spectacular in terms of talent, but it’s his larger-than-life personality that has captivated people since his freshman year at UConn (and still does).
Likewise, Clark stands out for his combination of talent and personality. While there are other players who are just as good, if not better, in women’s basketball, they don’t capture the public’s affection in the same way.
Even his coaches sometimes find themselves caught in a strong moment.
Early in the second quarter, after Clark buried a corner 3 to give Iowa a 28-21 lead, Iowa coach Lisa Bluder shook her head slightly, almost in disbelief, crossed the arms and smiles big. She was enjoying the show as much as anyone.
“She’s really spectacular, I don’t know how else to say it,” Bluder said, adding that Clark can and will help sell women’s basketball when it’s time to negotiate.
“We were wrong, you certainly have a product like this” — Bluder gestured to the stat sheet, which detailed Clark’s genius — “helps make it seem like yes, (selling basketball separately) is obvious.”
That means Caitlin Clark isn’t just the flashiest, most stunning player in the game. She’s the one poised to lead it into a new era.
Contributor: Steve Berkowitz, USA TODAY Sports
Follow sports business reporter Lindsay Schnell on Twitter @Lindsay_Schnell.
