Rivalries are nice for sports activities. They could even be one of the best factor a sport or a league can have. Magic vs. Hen. Ali vs. Frazier. Brady vs. Manning. what’s higher for the WNBA than Caitlin Clark having one rival? Caitlin Clark having 120 rivals.
The WNBA is seeing unprecedented attention from Americans this year, because of the arrival of Caitlin Clark. Clark’s Nationwide Championship loss in opposition to South Carolina drew a median of practically 19 million viewers, the most-watched women’s sporting event in history.
Though the league is not fairly seeing these numbers, Clark remains to be drawing over a million fans per game to their TV sets, one thing the WNBA hadn’t seen a single time in over a decade previous to the Indiana Fever drafting Clark.
Nevertheless it’s not as a result of Clark is dominating on the court docket, like she did at Iowa. Clark is the highest scoring player in NCAA basketball history, males or ladies. She averaged over 28 factors per recreation in her profession in faculty, together with a ridiculous 31.6 factors in her remaining season.
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Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever reacts within the first quarter of a recreation in opposition to the New York Liberty at Barclays Heart on June 02, 2024 within the Brooklyn borough of New York Metropolis. (Luke Hales/Getty Photos)
Her highest whole in any of her first 10 WNBA video games is 30 factors, which suggests she hasn’t but reached her faculty AVERAGE in a single recreation. Clark is averaging below 17 factors in these 10 video games.
This is no surprise; most rookies wrestle within the early levels of their transition from faculty or highschool into the skilled ranks. The sport is quicker, and the opponents are stronger. That is definitely taking a toll on Clark, but it surely’s a superb wager that she’ll determine it out finally.
Till then, although, followers want extra causes to tune in. Clark’s dominance in faculty, notably her potential to hit long-range three-point photographs, was a giant cause why followers tuned in and confirmed as much as the sector. She helped Iowa attain the Nationwide Championship recreation, ending 34-5.
However the Indiana Fever stink. They’re 2-8 and have the second-worst win proportion within the WNBA. The league permits the highest eight groups within the 12-team league to enter the postseason, and the Fever are presently three spots behind the ultimate playoff spot.
Caitlin Clark has struggled in her first 10 video games within the WNBA, not less than relative to her profession at Iowa, however followers nonetheless have loads of causes to tune in.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) makes a transfer across the protection of Chicago Sky guard Lindsay Allen, left, throughout a WNBA basketball recreation Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photograph/Doug McSchooler)
It is arduous for followers to get too enthusiastic about Clark’s play or her staff’s play. However what they will get enthusiastic about is the truth that gamers within the WNBA really seem to dislike Clark and that is led to some entertaining on-and-off-court antics.
WNBA gamers seem jealous of Clark’s recognition and a part of the explanation for that’s her potential. It is easy to see why a WNBA participant, who’s taking part in higher on the court docket, is irritated that Clark – who’s admittedly struggling – continues to be the principle draw. Clark is sixteenth within the league in points-per-game.
Plus, Clark is a trash-talker. She was at Iowa and that has carried over into the WNBA. That has rubbed some gamers the mistaken manner. Take the incident that occurred Saturday afternoon, for instance. Previous to Chennedy Carter taking a cheap shot at Clark, Clark appeared to say one thing to Carter following an Indiana Fever basket.
Does that warrant what occurred? No, it does not. Would the identical factor have occurred if one other participant stated one thing to Carter as an alternative of Clark? Most likely not. Is there a little bit additional in that hit as a result of it is Caitlin Clark? More than likely.
However everybody appears to assume that is horrible for the WNBA. Why? The clip of Carter hip-checking Clark is being shared broadly throughout social media. Each sports activities media outlet is masking it. Hell, I am right here writing about it TWO DAYS LATER.
CAITLIN CLARK HAS ALREADY FACED IMMENSE CRITICISM AT EVERY TURN 6 MONTHS INTO 2024
Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever indicators autographs for followers earlier than the sport in opposition to the New York Liberty in the course of the 2024 Commissioner’s Cup recreation on June 2, 2024 in Brooklyn, New York. (Catalina Fragoso/NBAE through Getty Photos)
If the Fever had merely crushed the Sky, as they did, and this didn’t occur, would there be this a lot dialog and protection across the recreation? Not even shut. We all know that as a result of Clark has performed 10 video games within the WNBA. The video games which have gotten probably the most protection are those that had some controversy. Controversy sells. Rivalries promote. WNBA gamers hating on Clark sells.
Plus, everybody must cease pretending that these items is all model new to the WNBA. I do not know if that is how rookies often get handled within the WNBA. why? As a result of I do not assume I’ve ever watched a WNBA recreation in my life previous to this yr.
Primarily based on the tv scores, most sports activities followers have not both. In actual fact, Angel Reese acquired grabbed by the throat and thrown to the bottom throughout a current recreation. She stated after the sport that is what occurs whenever you’re a rookie. The veterans let that it is their court docket.
I nonetheless miss out on how any of that is dangerous for the WNBA. But, that is the prevailing opinion on social media.
Perhaps I am naive, but when all these gamers simply continually praised Clark and by no means gave her a tough time on the court docket, it would not be practically as entertaining or draw the curiosity and a focus that the haters are drawing. Once more, rivalries are nice for sports activities.
Simply take a look at the views of all of the posts on Clark. Kind “Clark” into the search bar on X (previously Twitter) and everyone seems to be speaking in regards to the “hit.” What number of factors did Clark have? What was the ultimate rating of the sport? These are tougher to seek out (the reply is 11, by the way in which, and the Fever received 71-70).
Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever appears on in the course of the recreation in opposition to the New York Liberty throughout a 2024 Commissioner’s Cup recreation on June 2, 2024 in Brooklyn, New York. (Evan Yu/NBAE through Getty Photos)
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Some may argue that is a nasty factor. If followers are extra within the extracurricular stuff than the precise recreation, it is dangerous for the league. However is it? Nobody cared in regards to the video games or the scores for the previous 28 years. Now, they care about Caitlin Clark.
All publicity is nice publicity and the WNBA is getting a number of publicity.
