The interest in Iowa star guard Caitlin Clark has many observers wondering if the presumptive No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft could change not only women's basketball for years to come, but women's sports as a whole. is thinking.
In her column for USA Today, social issues sports columnist Nancy Armour, who is as credited with turning the NBA into a global phenomenon and basketball sneakers into a fashion lifestyle choice as Michael Jordan, said: , said he believes Clark can also be a transformative force. , and Nike joins the world's largest sportswear company.
Throughout his four-year college career, which ended with Iowa's loss to undefeated South Carolina on Sunday, the two-time National Player of the Year surpassed Pete Maravich's 54-year-old NCAA career basketball scoring record and Stephen's. -Breaked Curry's career scoring record. His 3-point shot made during his one season in the NCAA set in the 2007-08 season.
“Like Jordan, Clark will be the entry point into the game for many, but they will soon find that their interest extends beyond her,” Armor said. Just as things have changed, women's sports will change because of Clark.”
Clark's appeal is most evident in her improved record rating in the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament. Friday's Iowa-Connecticut game averaged 14.2 million viewers and peaked at 17 million viewers, making it the most-watched basketball game in ESPN history, a record set days earlier with the University of Iowa-LSU win. exceeded.
Bob Iger, CEO of Walt Disney and owner of ESPN, said last week At his company's annual meeting, viewership for the Iowa vs. LSU game exceeded all but one game in the men's NCAA Tournament, all but one game in last season's NBA Finals, and the most recent MLB postseason game in the world. It was announced that it ranked higher than all the games in the series. Iger added: “This is a tremendous, tremendous affirmation that not only is women's sport born, but it has tremendous potential.”
Supported by other breakout stars like Paige Backers and JuJu Watkins, the women's March Madness tournament's high ratings mean women's sports will set record attendance and viewership numbers in 2023 This comes as it was a breakthrough year for the NSWL (National Women's Soccer League). Viewer ratings for the WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) are rising, and the number of viewers for women's college volleyball is rapidly increasing. Gen Z is particularly interested in watching women's sports, with major media deals recently signed for the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament and NSWL.
Clark said after the South Carolina game. Men, older women…people as old as my grandmother, they really love our team. ”
In an interview with The Associated Press, AT&T's chief marketing and growth officer, Kellyn Smith Kenney, described Clark as a “potentially once-in-a-generation” athlete and emphasized the value of women's sports marketing. . She said viewers of women's sports account for a disproportionate share of household discretionary spending, are far more likely to remember and recall brand advertising during games, and reward brands that support women's sports. It is said to be expensive.
“We seem to be in a moment of female power and girl power right now,” Smith-Kenney said. “If you look at Beyoncé and Taylor Swift and their tours last year, and Caitlin (Clark) and Sabrina (professional basketball player Ionescu) this year, there's incredible momentum.”
