Caitlin Clark is ‘the sole reason’ for the surge of interest in women’s basketball, national-championship-winning South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley said Wednesday.
Over the last 13 months, the television viewership record for a women’s basketball game has been broken four times, with a Clark-led Iowa team participating in all four contests.
First, it was Iowa against LSU in last year’s national championship game followed by the Hawkeyes final three games of this year’s NCAA Tournament, culminating with a matchup against Staley’s Gamecocks, which was watched by an average of 18.7million.
The spotlight has never been brighter on Clark, who was selected No 1 overall by the Indiana Fever in Monday’s WNBA Draft.
Staley’s comments came alongside Clark’s introductory press conference with the Fever, where Barstool’s Dave Portnoy branded a journalist as a ‘sexist pervert’ and is demanding his employer take action after his awkward exchange with Clark.
Clark has been part of the rise in popularity of women’s basketball over the last few years
Staley is viewed as a pioneer in women’s basketball and has given plenty of credit to Clark
‘I want women’s basketball to grow, and I’m not too shy about saying why it grows,’ Staley told 670 The Score in Chicago about Clark. ‘She’s made it grow over the past two years.’
‘We need to make sure that we’re telling the stories of our entire game, so sometimes you have to go against the masses to really cut down to say what’s happening in real-time,’ Staley said.
‘Caitlin Clark is the sole reason why viewership has shot through the roof for our game. Sole reason,’ Staley continued.
‘Sole reason and I think the decision-makers are following suit in making sure that other games are being played besides Caitlin Clark, because if you play Caitlin Clark, you’re going to run up against somebody you might find that’s pretty good.’
Iowa played LSU twice in the record-breaking quartet, with Angel Reese headlining those Tigers’ squads. Clark lead the Hawkeyes past Paige Bueckers and UConn in the Final Four, before falling to South Carolina two weeks ago.
The Gamecocks defeated the Hawkeyes in Clark’s final collegiate game two weeks ago
Staley mentioned Clark bringing audiences in hopefully gave them a chance to also become interested in other players she’s teaming with or playing against, such as now-Reese teammate on the WNBA’s Chicago Sky, Kamilla Cardoso.
Staley was one of the five players Clark listed as part of her cameo on ‘Saturday Night Live’ who ‘kicked down the door’ for women’s basketball that ‘she can walk inside’ in joining the WNBA.
And during her first press appearance with the Fever, Indianapolis Star reporter Gregg Doyel imitated the former Iowa star’s heart-hands gesture before saying: ‘Start doing it to me and we’ll get along just fine.’
Doyel has come under fire for his remarks, with some stating the Fever should revoke his credentials for the exchange.
Caitlin Clark is ‘the sole reason’ for the surge of interest in women’s basketball, national-championship-winning South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley said Wednesday.
Over the last 13 months, the television viewership record for a women’s basketball game has been broken four times, with a Clark-led Iowa team participating in all four contests.
First, it was Iowa against LSU in last year’s national championship game followed by the Hawkeyes final three games of this year’s NCAA Tournament, culminating with a matchup against Staley’s Gamecocks, which was watched by an average of 18.7million.
Staley’s comments came alongside Clark’s introductory press conference with the Fever, where Barstool’s Dave Portnoy branded a journalist as a ‘sexist pervert’ and is demanding his employer take action after his awkward exchange with Clark.
Clark has been part of the rise in popularity of women’s basketball over the last few years
Staley is viewed as a pioneer in women’s basketball and has given plenty of credit to Clark
‘I want women’s basketball to grow, and I’m not too shy about saying why it grows,’ Staley told 670 The Score in Chicago about Clark. ‘She’s made it grow over the past two years.’
‘We need to make sure that we’re telling the stories of our entire game, so sometimes you have to go against the masses to really cut down to say what’s happening in real-time,’ Staley said.
‘Caitlin Clark is the sole reason why viewership has shot through the roof for our game. Sole reason,’ Staley continued. ‘Sole reason and I think the decision-makers are following suit in making sure that other games are being played besides Caitlin Clark, because if you play Caitlin Clark, you’re going to run up against somebody you might find that’s pretty good.’
Iowa played LSU twice in the record-breaking quartet, with Angel Reese headlining those Tigers’ squads. Clark lead the Hawkeyes past Paige Bueckers and UConn in the Final Four, before falling to South Carolina two weeks ago.
The Gamecocks defeated the Hawkeyes in Clark’s final collegiate game two weeks ago
Staley mentioned Clark bringing audiences in hopefully gave them a chance to also become interested in other players she’s teaming with or playing against, such as now-Reese teammate on the WNBA’s Chicago Sky, Kamilla Cardoso.
Staley was one of the five players Clark listed as part of her cameo on ‘Saturday Night Live’ who ‘kicked down the door’ for women’s basketball that ‘she can walk inside’ in joining the WNBA.
And during her first press appearance with the Fever, Indianapolis Star reporter Gregg Doyel imitated the former Iowa star’s heart-hands gesture before saying: ‘Start doing it to me and we’ll get along just fine.’
Doyel has come under fire for his remarks, with some stating the Fever should revoke his credentials for the exchange.
News
WNBA star Chennedy Carter, who shoved Caitlin Clark, SLAMS NBA 2K25 over her video game appearance: ‘They wrong for this’
WNBA star Chennedy Carter, who shoved Caitlin Clark, SLAMS NBA 2K25 over her video game appearance: ‘They wrong for this’ The impending release of NBA 2K25 is set to drop for video gamers around the world in over a week’s time, but…
Angel Reese Made a Post After Losing to Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever
Angel Reese Made a Post After Losing to Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever. On Friday night, Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky were defeated on their home court by Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever, 100-81. The Sky have now lost five straight games but still hold the…
Cameras Catch Angel Reese’s Blunt Caitlin Clark Accusation During Fever-Sky
Cameras Catch Angel Reese’s Blunt Caitlin Clark Accusation During Fever-Sky. As expected, there was no shortage of action during Friday’s highly-anticipated showdown between the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky. Ultimately, it was Caitlin Clark and Co. who secured a big win after blowing out the Sky…
Chicago Sky’s Diamond DeShields Facing SUSPENSION For Flagrant Foul on Caitlin Clark
“Absolutely filthy”- Fans lambast Diamond DeShields for flagrant foul on Caitlin Clark. Diamond DeShields starred in a controversial moment with Caitlin Clark during Friday night’s Chicago Sky vs Indiana Fever game. With 3:52 seconds left on the clock in the fourth…
Postgame Interview: Caitlin Clark EXPLODES 31pt/12ast! Caitlin Clark discusses Indiana Fever’s surging confidence as playoffs loom
Postgame Interview: Caitlin Clark EXPLODES 31pt/12ast post game interview. “Coming in hot”: Caitlin Clark discusses Indiana Fever’s surging confidence as playoffs loom The Indiana Fever secured a morale-boosting 100-81 road victory over their Eastern Conference rivals Chicago Sky on Friday….
Angel Reese rocking her new exclusive kicks for her game against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever
Angel Reese rocking her new exclusive kicks for her game against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever. The shoes are simply incredible. Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese warms up before a WNBA basketball game against the Indiana Fever, Friday, Aug. 30,…
End of content
No more pages to load