Vincent Frank
Indiana Fever star rookie Caitlin Clark is currently in the midst of a break from what has been an historic WNBA campaign thus far.
To many, Clark was snubbed of a spot on the women’s basketball roster in the 2024 Summer Olympics. After all, the record-breaking former Iowa star has put up some absolutely insane numbers through 26 career games as a professional.
- Caitlin Clark stats (2024): 17.1 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 8.2 APG
The backdrop here is an obvious division between sports fans about Clark’s overall impact on the WNBA brand compared to other star players. We’ve also seen a debate rage between fans of the Fever star and those who back fellow rookie Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky.
Drama. Division. The need to be right. It’s what defines culture today. And it has indeed leaked into the women’s professional game with Clark — by no fault of her own — being a central figure.
With the WNBA season set to resume here soon, Clark still finds herself in the headlines. She’s not making the headlines on her own. She’s simply enjoying her time off.
We can now add another layer to this, and it’s some eye-opening stuff.
Related: Fans Troll Team USA At Summer Olympics Over Caitlin Clark Snub
Former WNBA Star Chiney Ogwumike Has Eye-Opening Take On Caitlin Clark
The two-time All-Star spoke on a recent Awful Announcing podcast. Boy, did Ogwumike have something to say.
“She is the most impactful player that I’ve seen hit the scene, not even just in basketball, but in sports, in a generation,” Ogwumike said of Caitlin Clark, “for how she moves a needle not only with viewership, but business. And that rising tide lifts all boats. And the reason why I say for a generation is because I have the lived experience. I played against Maya Moore. I played against Candace Parker. I played against Diana Taurasi, particularly most of those in the WNBA.”
The most impactful player we’ve seen in sports in a generation? That certainly is a bold statement.
Patrick Mahomes has won three Super Bowl titles since entering the NFL as a first-round pick of the Kansas CIty Chiefs back in 2017. In the midst of just his seventh MLB season, Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers is already considered one of the greatest baseball players of all-time.
With all of that said, Ogwumike does have a point here. Clark’s impact on the brand of the women’s game can’t be denied.
Attendance figures. Television ratings. Ticket prices. Merchandise sales. The new WNBA media rights deal. All of these point in the direction of Clark having an absolutely huge impact on what we’re seeing with women’s basketball right now.
“I know the greatness that the game has always had. But Caitlin Clark is bringing it to new, exponential heights,” Ogwumike continued. “And it’s bringing and ushering the moment that we’ve always been waiting for. I think a lot of times when we speak positively on other players, people take it as a shot to Caitlin. It’s not. You have to celebrate those who are advancing the game. But also recognize that Caitlin is doing things at a speed — at lightspeed for us — with our business, with our growth, with our viewership.”
The debate will continue to rage. It is just how society is right now. But Clark’s impact can’t be denied. She joins others in standing on the shoulders of those who came before. She’s also doing her thing as an ambassador for the game. All the while, Clark continues to awe on the court.
Now, it’s time to simply sit back and enjoy.
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