Caitlin Clark’s effect on the game of women’s basketball

By Brandon Campione

May 30, 2024 

On March 3, 2024 college basketball was a witness to history when Caitlin Clark broke Pete Maravich’s NCAA point record. Her records and popularity have been bringing more eyes to the entire women’s basketball scene.

Clark broke about 23 records just in her senior season at Iowa. Her style of basketball completely changed the way many people look at women’s college basketball. Just the NCAA championship between Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes and the undefeated University of South Carolina had brought viewership up 89% from the previous season’s championship game as well as brought viewership up 285% from the 2022 championship. The most impressive statistic was that this was the most watched basketball game at any level since 2019. She obviously has been a huge reason for this and will continue to bring more eyes to women’s basketball.

On May 14 of this year, Caitlin Clark made her WNBA debut after becoming the first pick in the draft. Her first regular season game broke the ESPN viewership record for a WNBA game. This is further proof that she has really advanced the game of women’s basketball.

Many may argue that she is given too much credit for what she’s done and that there are other women’s basketball players who deserve more recognition. I would disagree with that, invalidating her talent does little to address the issue or lack of spotlight given to her peers in the WNBA.

 I would actually argue that she gives them a larger spotlight. Clark has given her team, the Indiana Fever, more televised games which gives anyone who plays against or with her a larger amount of eyes on them giving a bigger platform to grow themselves. 

The truth is that there shouldn’t be a need for competition between women for the minimal amount of spots at the top that society gives to them. Women should be given the same amount of glory and recognition as men do, but since they do not, there is a forced competition between the women to get those spots. 

Caitlin Clark is furthering the game of women’s basketball by giving her fellow players more opportunities to show fans who they are. But what society needs to do is try and be open to more players than Caitlin Clark and that will also further grow the game.