Mystics Owner Sheila Johnson is causing lots of conversation in the media after voicing her opinion on the recent naming of WNBA Rookie Caitlin Clark as Time’s Athlete of the Year.

WNBA Star Caitlin Clark

During Johnson’s interview, the Mystics Owner shared her belief that the recent success of the WNBA isn’t a result of one player, but it is a collective effort amongst the entire rookie class that came in earlier this year.

“It has taken the WNBA almost 28 years to get to the point where we are now, and this year something clicked with the WNBA, and it’s because of the draft of the players that came in. It’s just not Caitlin Clark, it’s Reece. We have so much talent out there that it’s been unrecognized, and I don’t think we can pin it on one player.”

This season the WNBA saw record-breaking numbers in viewership and ticket sales, marking a significant milestone for the rather new league. Average game viewership reached a historic high of 657,000, while the WNBA Finals alone attracted over 2 million viewers.

Networks like CBS and ESPN recorded several record-breaking WNBA games over the season, and for the first time in league history, it really felt like this league was finally finding its’ stride.

Lots of contributing factors could be the reason for the recent WNBA success in viewership including star power, increased streaming coverage and game accessibility, a long-term investment by Nike, and an all-around investment in the culture of women’s sports.

While these factors may be what Sheila Johnson was making reference to, it can’t go without question what Clark has been able to do for the WNBA in just one season.

Clark set rookie records in scoring and assists boosting Indiana Fever’s attendance to a record-breaking 340,715 fans for the season. Her games alone this season saw record-breaking viewership averaging 1.178 million viewers, exceeding league averages by a long shot.

Additionally, other WNBA teams have had to move just their matchup against the Indiana Fever in order to successfully accommodate the high demand for tickets for that matchup alone. Her impact extends to social media engagement, record merchandise sales, and driving investing in women’s sports.

There’s no question Clark has been a force to be reckoned with in this league, and it’s unfortunate when spectators try to take that away from her.

Clark’s presence symbolizes a new era of growth and visibility for the league and all the more reason for Time to name her Athlete of the Year.