Caitlin Clark: The New Face of Basketball
2024 was the year of Caitlin Clark, and it was time to crown her as the face of basketball. Basketball fans, quick question: who’s the most influential player in the game right now? If you said anyone other than Caitlin Clark, you might want to think again. In just a few minutes, I’m excited to show you how Clark isn’t just shining on the court; she’s transforming the entire sport. From breaking viewership records to securing impressive business deals, we’ll explore how this remarkable WNBA star is achieving what even the veterans couldn’t.
Did you see what Caitlin Clark achieved on Christmas Eve? No, she didn’t just get a new basketball or some fancy sneakers; she accomplished something truly remarkable. Caitlin Clark was named the AP Female Athlete of the Year, following her significant impact on women’s sports. Yes, she did it again! She scored the AP Female Athlete of the Year award. Can you believe it? This isn’t just any trophy collecting dust; it’s one of the biggest honors in sports. Just a week ago, she was also named Time Athlete of the Year. The article stated that Caitlin Clark raised the profile of women’s basketball to unprecedented levels in both the college ranks and the WNBA.
You might be wondering how big of a deal this really is. Let me share the exciting details with you. A group of 74 sports journalists from the Associated Press voted on the award. Clark received 35 votes, while Olympic gymnast Simone Biles was second with 25, and boxer Aman Khafif was third with just four votes. Picture the 74 top sports journalists from across the country all huddled up deciding who deserves this massive award. Guess what? 35 of them picked Clark—that’s nearly half! But here’s where it gets really interesting: Simone Biles, the gymnastics superstar, only got 25 votes. Clark didn’t just win; she dominated the competition.
But wait, there’s more! Clark isn’t just any athlete winning this award; she’s now part of an elite club. Clark is only the fourth women’s basketball player to be honored as the Female Athlete of the Year since it was first presented in 1931, joining legends like Cheryl Swoops, Rebecca Lobo, and Candace Parker. Only three other women’s basketball players have ever snagged this title. We’re talking about legends of the game here! Clark isn’t just following in their footsteps; she’s blazing her own trail.
Here’s where it gets interesting: Candace Parker and Rebecca Lobo joyfully congratulated her, but Cheryl Swoops, her number one critic, didn’t say a word. Isn’t that intriguing? What I found interesting is that Rebecca Lobo and Candace Parker both publicly congratulated Caitlin on winning this award, while the third person on this list did not.
Now, you might be wondering why Clark and not other great athletes. Some people are scratching their heads, wondering what makes Clark so special. Some are even saying it should have been someone like Simone Biles or Sydney McLaughlin, both of whom are incredible athletes in their own right. Here’s the thing: it’s not just about what Clark did on the court. Sure, her skills are off the charts, but this award is about something bigger.
What a lot of people are missing when we talk about these global and national awards that Caitlin is winning this year is that it’s more about her impact on the sport and how she elevated an entire sport. It’s more about that and less about how she played on the court. Now, how she played on the court was also incredible, and she’s broken so many records—the numbers speak for themselves.
Let’s dive into why she keeps winning these awards. The name Clark has transformed basketball, sparking discussions about a new “Jordan effect” from an unexpected source. Caitlin Clark’s remarkable talent draws comparisons to one of the greatest athletes of all time. The financial impact of her success is simply exceptional, but it’s also about the number of eyeballs and the kind of money that has been drawn to the WNBA. The fact that the WNBA is now the number one fastest-growing brand in the world is a testament to her influence. Clark accounts for 26% of total revenue in the WNBA. One player is responsible for over a quarter of an entire professional league’s money. That’s not just impressive!
You might be thinking, “Come on, the WNBA was already growing,” and you’re right; it was. But what Clark has done is on a whole other level. Nobody saw this coming. The boom we’re seeing with Caitlin Clark is completely unexpected. It’s like she hit the fast-forward button on women’s basketball.
Now, let’s talk numbers. Remember the national championship game where Clark was the star? A whopping 18 million people watched that game. That’s not just big; it’s massive! Here’s where
