If you’re not a sports fan I’m sorry because you’re missing one of the biggest stories to come along in years. It’s not Patrick Mahomes and Jason Kelce. It’s not LeBron James or Kevin Durant. And it’s not Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison, or even Simone Biles. No, the biggest sports story in a long long time is the phenomenon called Caitlin Clark. People who never had much interest in women’s professional basketball (me), and, in fact, had an aversion to the sport, have changed their entire attitude and become captivated by every game this young woman plays. Every shot she takes, every pass she threads through a defense, and every drive she makes to the hoop are watched with excitement and intense interest.
Caitlin Clark is a 22 year old Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) rookie point guard. After a record-setting college career at the University of Iowa, Clark was the first player chosen in the WNBA draft and thus became a member of the Indiana Fever roster. The Fever had the first pick in the draft because in 2023 they had the worst W-L record in the league. Obviously, the first pick in the draft is usually the best player available, and Clark had easily earned that designation.
Her collegiate career was highlighted by more records and accolades than I have room to list. The biggest of those was the all time leading scorer in Division I (DI) college basketball for not just women, but for both women and men. She had the most 30-point games by a man or woman in DI basketball in the past 25 seasons. She was the Iowa and Big 10 all-time leader in assists, and set the Big 10 career record for most the most 3-pointers made. She won the Naismith, Sullivan, and Wooden Awards for the best college basketball player and amateur athlete in America two years in-a-row.
Her record-setting ways got off to a slow start in the professional ranks, though, because it took her half the season to get accustomed to her new teammates and the hostile reception she received from WNBA veterans and opposing coaches, flagrant fouls and all. She was snubbed by the “committee” that chose the team for the 2024 Paris Olympics, but that, it turns out, was a blessing. That month-long break gave her time to rest and think of something besides basketball.
Now, with only 6 games remaining in the 40-game season, Caitlin Clark has become the face of the WNBA. The month of the Olympic break was a time to rest and reset, get to know her teammates, and recharge herself. Since the season re-started she has become the dominant point guard in the league and has asserted herself as the leader of the Fever. Clark’s teammates have fed off her boundless energy and played better. She has elevated everyone’s game, and that has translated into a 7-1 record since the break and 8-2 the last 10 games.
During this time, Clark became the only WNBA rookie player to have not one, but two, “triple-doubles.” What’s a triple-double, you say? It’s when a player records double figures (more than 9) in three statistical categories. For Caitlin Clark those categories were points, rebounds, and assists. She did it for the second time this season last night against the Los Angeles Sparks. She also has made more 3-pointers (102) than any previous WNBA rookie, and leads the league in assists. An assist occurs when she passes the ball to a teammate who then scores. She averages 8.4 assists per game. Second place averages 7.4/game. She is 3rd in the league in free throw percentage at 90% (men are rarely that good), and is second in minutes played per game—she played 40 minutes last night!
Speaking of passing, she is a magician with the ball. When dribbling, she is always looking ahead. She has an uncanny ability to find the open player who’s cutting to the basket, and gets the ball where it needs to go. Back cut passes, no-look passes, behind-the-back passes, and passes “over-the-top”—she has them all. Her passing genius leads to lay-ups or wide-open 3’s all the time, but unfortunately, also turnovers. Clark’s only blemish is her turnover rate. She leads the league in turnovers (TO’s) at 5.5 per game. Second is 3.7/game. Her passes get intercepted. Sloppy ball handling leads to the defender “picking her pocket”—stealing the ball. And sometimes, her teammates fumble the ball. She started off slow last night and had several turnovers early in the game. She got it under control in the second half with better ball control.
Before the Caitlin Clark era, WNBA teams were lucky to get 2000-3000 fans in the seats. And TV ratings? I doubt if they approached anywhere near expectations. Now, sellouts crowds are in every arena, especially those where Caitlin Clark is playing. She gets a louder ovation than the home team players, and the number of fans wearing “Indiana Fever 22” jerseys is staggering—even in New York!
The fans voted Caitlin a starter in the All-Star game in July. The vote count was very telling; the leading vote-getter in 2023 was A’ja Wilson with 95,860 votes. In 2024, as the leading vote-getter, Clark, received 700,735 votes—over than 7 times more than last year’s top choice! Second this year was Clark’s teammate and center, Aliyah Boston, with 618,680, and Wilson was 3rd with 607,300 votes. A 700% increase in All-Star votes is solid confirmation of the Caitlin Clark affect on women’s professional basketball.
Fans, young and old, love her. This old red-neck curmudgeon loves her, too. I’ve watched almost every Indiana Fever game this season (I missed a few in May), and when she plays, which is most of the game, my eyes are only on her! She is phenomenal. She never lets up. Her “motor” is in high gear constantly. Her passing is amazing. Her 3-point shooting is exceptional—most are way behind the line and nothing but net. The Fever clinched a playoff spot Tuesday night so with only 6 games remaining, the playoffs are soon to be. The way the Fever (and Caitlin Clark) have been playing lately, other teams should be worried. Indiana could win it all.
Caitlin Clark is a once-in-a-lifetime women’s basketball player. She can and does do everything. Passing, driving the the basketball, shooting, and ball handling are a few of her strengths. I wish her turnover rate was less, but defenses have double- and triple-teamed her every game. She sometimes tries passes that have no chance because she throws it carelessly, but a lot of them lead to a score.
Well, she’s not perfect, but she’s darn close. I love to watch her play because she makes me say “unbelievable” all the time. Her talent is amazing and sharing it with America has been a joy to experience. The WNBA owes her big-time for the unbelievable attention she has brought to the league. A dying venture is now a thriving, growing, exciting entity with Caitlin Clark as its showpiece. They can’t let detractors mess it up. Those folks need to enjoy the spoils as long as they can and accept Caitlin Clark as a good thing for their product. Hopefully, this phenomenon will lead to better league revenues and player salaries that approach those of NBA athletes. Advertising revenue, ticket and merchandise sales, and television ratings all have to be way up so teams will be more profitable and players will earn what they should. At least one would think so. I do hope no one with a different concept for the WNBA comes along and screws things up. The league, and its image, have taken a turn in the direction of success because of one person, and I for one really have enjoyed watching the change unfold. I’m excited for the playoffs because I don’t want the season to end.
References: Jenkins K. Caitlin Clark WNBA Records: Indiana Fever honors to know. ESPN 2024 Sept 4. https://www.espn.com/story/caitlin-clark-WNBA-records.
Voelpel M. Clark Propels Fever to fifth straight win. ESPN 2024 Sept 4. https://www.espn.com/story/what-records-does-caitlin-clark-have-at-iowa.
