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At the University of Iowa, she shattered NCAA records. She was the first overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. She is currently the talk of the town.
She’s present here, she’s present there, she’s absolutely everywhere.
She’s Caitlin Clark.
Chances are that if you’ve been following any online sports discussions, you’ve seen the 22-year-old’s name pop up multiple times per day over the last several months. Clark’s name is practically synonymous with the WNBA and women’s basketball at this point, leading to her impact on the sport being dubbed ‘The Caitlin Clark Effect.’
Regardless of your feelings towards her, it’s undeniable that Clark’s involvement has elevated the WNBA. However, what does this signify for the sport? Additionally, is the frequent mention of her name beneficial?
Let’s pause for a moment to scrutinize the impact of Caitlin Clark and also examine the current state of the WNBA Championship odds.
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Caitlin Clark Effect: The Good
Regarding the Caitlin Clark Effect, there are noticeable positives and negatives. Let’s begin by discussing her beneficial influence on the league and women’s basketball as a whole.
One positive aspect of Clark’s presence is that it has led to more eyes than ever being on the WNBA. Women’s basketball players and fans alike have fought hard to bring a bigger spotlight to the league and that’s finally begun to happen. Hell, her being drafted this year was the main reason why the WNBA Draft saw its highest viewership of all time — 2.45 million viewers with a peak of 3.09 million.
That trend hasn’t even stopped now that she has a handful of games with the Indiana Fever under her belt. According to Front Office Sports, six of the WNBA’s broadcasters have already tallied their most-watched games ever and five of those records came from games featuring Clark and the Fever.
Not only has she positively affected television viewership, but Clark’s addition has also led to increased attendance at Fever games. Indiana recorded an attendance of 82,857 through the first five home games in 2024, a significant increase compared to last season’s total of 81,336 over 20 games at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Not only that, but games involving Clark during the first weekend of June saw around 7,000 more people than the next closest matchup.
It’s fantastic for the WNBA when people make an effort to watch Clark and the Fever, either in-person or on television. Initially, someone might only be interested in her and the team, but persuading them to watch even one game can serve as a stepping stone towards creating a lifelong WNBA fan.
The favorite for the 2024 Rookie of the Year, with odds of -750 on BetOnline, is proving to be as entertaining to watch as NBA player Stephen Curry. This also serves as an inspiration for young girls, showing them they too can become popular sports figures.
Ultimately, it’s evident that the Caitlin Clark Effect has generated unprecedented interest in the WNBA.
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Caitlin Clark Effect: The Bad
Although Caitlin Clark’s entry into the WNBA has introduced numerous positive changes to women’s basketball, it has not been devoid of conflict and contention.
For starters, there’s been a lot of talk about jealousy going around the rest of the league. Clark has brought a lot of eyeballs to the product, resulting in players and fans alike wondering why it took her being drafted for people to start paying more attention. After all, she was receiving more attention from public sports figures and the general public before she was even drafted than some players who have been playing and grinding for years.
It’s that jealousy that has led many WNBA fans to believe that players are taking cheap shots at Clark to vent their frustration. You only have to go back to this past weekend when the Chicago Sky’s Chennedy Carter gave Clark a hockey-like shoulder check, resulting in every sports media figure giving their opinion on the situation. The fact that the play was called a technical foul rather than a fragrant led to more people believing that there was a bias against Clark.
Various topics regarding race have also grown as Clark plays more WNBA games. The Atheltic‘s Jim Trotter recently wrote about how Clark’s popularity might have a lot to do with the fact that she’s a straight white woman, making her an attractive asset “to local companies and national corporations.”
Even the Las Vegas Aces’ A’ja Wilson — who’s a two-time WNBA MVP and Defensive Player of the Year — has discussed how Clark is having an easier time gaining recognition and respect than a Black woman who some corporations “don’t see it as marketable, so it doesn’t matter how hard I work.”
Clark attracted criticism for securing a $28 million endorsement deal from Nike, a sum that surpasses any previous deal given to a Black WNBA player. Although Clark’s talent arguably justifies this deal, it’s understandable why there is resentment over the fact that no woman of color has previously been granted such a contract.
Clark is still a rookie in the league, therefore, I anticipate the aforementioned discussions to persist. That being said, situations often need to become difficult before they improve. As such, these dialogues might be essential in establishing an equitable environment.
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WNBA Championship 2024 Odds Update (6/4)
All WNBA Championship odds are courtesy of BetOnline.
- Las Vegas Aces (+105)
- New York Libert (+165)
- Connecticut Sun (+1000)
- Minnesota Lynx (+1400)
- Seattle Storm (+1600)
- Phoenix Mercury (+330)
- Dallas Wings (+4000)
- Chicago Sky (+4500)
- Atlanta Dream (+5000)
- Indiana Fever (+6600)
- Washington Mystics (+15000)
- Los Angeles Sparks (+15000)
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Other WNBA & Basketball Betting Links
- WNBA News Page
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- NBA Finals 2024: 3 Must-Bet Mavericks vs. Celtics Series Props
