(Photo : Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – Caitlin Clark (#22) of the Indiana Fever dribbles the ball throughout the third quarter within the recreation at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 20, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The 2024 WNBA season has to date proven us one factor, Caitlin Clark is certainly an distinctive expertise.
The sensational rookie out of Iowa, via eight video games now, has picked it up after an unsightly begin.
She is averaging 17.5 factors and 6.3 assists per recreation and is recent off her greatest efficiency of the season the place she dropped 30 factors in opposition to the Los Angeles Sparks.
While the dynamic guard remains to be navigating her skilled profession within the WNBA, the conversations surrounding her have been comparatively on the detrimental aspect. Clark’s expertise is plain, and as soon as she begins including wins to her stat line, the critics and doubters will quickly skinny out.
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Unnecessary Hate or An Abundance of Love
Players across the league have been vocal about Caitlin Clark’s entry.
From the elder stateswoman of the WNBA, Diana Taurasi, to the present face of the league, Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson, everybody has had one thing to say in regards to the Indiana Fever’s younger star.
The Phoenix Mercury star and former UConn standout, Taurasi, stated again throughout the NCAA Final Four that she would as an alternative take Paige Bueckers over Caitlin Clark, as she believes there will probably be an prolonged studying curve for Clark.
“Reality is coming,” Taurasi stated.
“There’s levels to this thing. And that’s just life. We all went through it. You see it on the NBA side, and you will see it on this side. You look superhuman playing 18-year-olds, but you’ll come with some grown women who’ve played professional basketball for a long time.”
Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson has additionally been vocal, saying that her race has influenced her potential to be marketable.
“I think it’s a huge thing. I think many people may say it’s not about black and white, but to me, it is,” she stated in an interview by way of AP.
“It really is because you can be top-notch at what you are as a black woman, but yet maybe that’s something people don’t want to see,” she theorized.
Clark by no means made an announcement about Taurasi’s feedback. The matter possible reemerged forward of the Fever’s matchup in opposition to the Mercury.
NBA on TNT analyst Charles Barkley has additionally been fairly vocal on the WNBA’s remedy of Clark.
“You woman out there, y’all petty, man… Y’all should be thanking [Caitlin Clark] for getting you all a*s private charters. All the money and visibility she’s bringing to the WNBA.”
Many others all through the basketball world have come to Clark’s protection, additional supporting the expansion of the WNBA as a complete.
Chiney Ogwumike posted a prolonged thread about Barkley’s feedback on X.
“Every WNBA player I know supports this rookie class and is grateful for the spotlight & money that Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and co. are bringing to the W!” she wrote.
“Let’s be very clear, we love Caitlin Clark…I think this narrative of everybody hating on her…knock it off it’s not there.”
Good stuff right here by @LVAces Head Coach @BeckyHammon and @_ajawilson22 on the nationwide dialog surrounding the @WNBA star rookie. @KTNV pic.twitter.com/kAutGYVth4
— Alex Eschelman (@alexeschelman) May 24, 2024
“Let’s be very clear, we love Caitlin Clark…I think this narrative of everybody hating on her…knock it off. It’s not there.”
Numbers Don’t Lie
(Photo : Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
Indiana has already performed in a few of the WNBA’s most-viewed video games of the season.
According to Sports Media Watch, Cailtlin Clark’s professional debut’s May 14th match in opposition to the Connecticut Sun drew in 2.12 million views.
Fever vs. Liberty again on May 18th drew 1.71 million.
Furthermore, the WNBA hit viewership on three networks over Memorial Day Weekend. The Fever’s matchup in opposition to the Sparks on Friday, May twenty fifth, had a 0.46 score and 724,000 viewers on ION Television.
The Sun and Fever rematch on May twentieth drew 1.56 million views, as with the Sparks’ matchup in opposition to the Aces additionally drew in over one million viewers.
Clark’s first win within the WNBA in opposition to the Sparks was not only a victory on the court docket but additionally a triumph in viewership. It drew the WNBA’s fifth-largest viewers of the season, a testomony to her rising reputation.
Caitlin Clark is a score draw. Each time she is on ESPN, ABC, or ION, all eyes are on her, as Clark’s stellar play solely advantages the league with regards to drawing in audiences consideration.
The Indiana Fever have performed principally in bought out arenas across the league, with some attendances reaching 17,000+.
READ MORE: Fever Coach Slams Caitlin Clark, Indiana Critics Amid Ugly WNBA Start
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