Context and the Caitlin Clark Effect

A meaningful Greek proverb states: “A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit”

Young or old, male or female, a lot of trees have been planted on and in basketball gyms across the nation. When I think of the growth and development of basketball—a sport born in America—many a tall tree paved the way and laid the foundation for the incredible success and popularity of the game today. 

The irony of "shade" is not lost on me here. In fact, I'm not trying to throw any against the magnificent Caitlin Clark. I'm a fan...and it's not because she shares but the jersey number and surname of my favorite male athlete: Will Clark. I'm grateful for the exposure and attention she has brought to the game. I'm willing to defend her too. Not on the court but in the other court—the one of sports debate. 

Clark is one of the greatest shooters of all time and has the record to prove it. When you successfully make that many buckets, one need not be super selfless. However, Clark led The Big 10 in assists in 2023-2024. Solid. She is an outstanding passer and has remarkable vision on the court. She has already been named a "generational player." We shall see, but one thing is certain: Caitlin Clark is a household name. She has been the subject of Q&A, discussion and debate. And Yahoo Sports' Cassandra Negley wants to know: Is the league ready for the "Caitlin Clark Effect"?

Negley speaks to this question with much more than color commentary. Whether or not the market is bullish, the WNBA's stock is trending upward. Her numbers speak to that and Clark is to blame. She states,

The WNBA's 28th season is poised to be its biggest yet: bigger crowds, bigger TV audiences, bigger commercial aspirations, bigger stakes. 

There are going to be growing pains that we're already seeing play out. "The growth is happening so fast. It's so accelerated," Lynx head coach and president of basketball operations Cheryl Reeve said.

Merchandise offerings and availability are often a problem. And the overall experience of watching or attending games will be at the forefront for everyone.

The Mystics and Dream each play in venues with limited capacity. Entertainment and Sports Arena in Washington, D.C., seats about 4,200. The Mystics already moved their June game against the Fever to Capital One Arena (more than 20,300), where it could set a WNBA attendance record. Atlanta's Gateway Arena at College Park holds 3,500.

Clark has a personal security detail in Indiana as she did in Iowa, and general manager Lin Dunn said the franchise committed to keeping everyone in their traveling party safe.

Connecticut Sun head coach Stefanie White said the crowds waiting for players at hotel lobbies and near the team bus have grown to the point where hotels are sectioning off areas of the lobby for safety.

"It's not just one or two stopping to get an autograph or a picture," White said. "It's hordes of people."

Developing story... The league is adding chartered flights for all teams this season, but the rollout has been bumpy. The Fever and Lynx flew private for their openers tonight, while other teams had to take buses or fly commercial.

What to watch... The WNBA's most-watched game took place 27 years ago and drew 5.04 million viewers. Some believe Clark's debut tonight in Connecticut could break that record.

All in all, The league's metrics in attendance, viewership and engagement have been on the incline for the last few years, but the "Caitlin Clark Effect" will push it all into overdrive.

I don't want to undermine what is happening. The shade in which today's player sit is wonderful. I simply want to send the poignant reminder of what is true far beyond basketball or the development of any women's program: We must not forget those who planted those trees. They include, in no particular order: Pat Summit, Cheryl Miller, ‌Sheryl Swoopes, Maya Moore, Becky Hammond (first female coach in the NBA), Candace Parker, Diana Taurasi, Cynthia Cooper, Tamika Catchings, Muffet McGraw, Ruth Riley, Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, Tara VanDerveer, Kim Mulkey and the list goes on. It will continue to do so. Let us put their names on those benches in the shade and share their stories. 

Are we ready for the Caitlin Clark Effect? Think of it as an iceberg. This is just the tip of a meaningful force—buoyed by others who stand proud and stand tall. Tomorrow's players will fill their shoes and it's exciting to think of what the game will look like for them. In the meantime, it's worth mentioning that two-time WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson is getting her own signature Nike shoe. She joins Sabrina Ionescu (Nike) and Breanna Stewart (Puma) as the only active WNBA players with signature deals.

The women in today's game stand on the shoulders of giants. Thanks for planting.

Photo Credits
Yahoo Sports
WNBA Greats