• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

West Haven Voice

West Haven’s only independent news source - By and For West Haven

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Archive
  • Advertise With Us!
  • Classified
  • Announcements
  • Contact Us
  • Web Exclusive
    • Kids Activity Pages

Caitlin Clark and the WNBA

October 2, 2024 By whvoice

By Rich Lowry

Syndicated Columnist

Thank you, Caitlin Clark

I called a long-time friend the other day, a fellow sports fan, to catch up, and we spent the first 20 minutes talking about women’s professional basketball.

Neither of us had ever exhibited the slightest interest in the WNBA, but both of us, simultaneously, unbeknownst to the other, had become Caitlin Clark fans.

There are transformational players who change the competitive balance in a league or change how the game is played, but it’s rare to come across players who lift an entire league on their shoulders.

There was much knowing chatter when Clark entered the WNBA that she was in for a rude awakening after her historic college career, that she wouldn’t look so special against the best women players in the world. And, yes, there was a period of adjustment, but as the WNBA regular season ends and the playoffs begin, we can say the Clark doubters have been proved categorically wrong.

Infamously, Geno Auriemma, the storied coach of the University of Connecticut women’s team, said back in June, “The delusional fanbase that follows her disrespected the WNBA players by saying she’s going to go in that league and tear it apart.”

Delusional? Clark has had the best rookie season in WNBA history and turned everything she’s touched to ratings or attendance gold.

For all the jealousy and even hostility she’s elicited from other WNBA players, Clark is doing them all a favor. The WNBA could have had an unlimited advertising and marketing budget and not produced anything like the results of simply putting “C squared” on the court.

With Clark, the everyday is extraordinary. For the final game of the season against the Fever, the unremarkable Washington Mystics moved the event to the NBA arena and drew 20,711, the most for a game in WNBA history. The Mystics usually play in an arena with a capacity of 4,200.

The Indiana Fever averaged 17,000 attendees per home game and 15,000 on the road; both are more than any other team by a healthy margin. When the team shows up in an opposing arena, often a lion’s share of the fans are rooting for Clark, not the home team.

The Ion network, which broadcasts WNBA games, saw its ratings increase 133% from a year ago, to 670,000 per game. It benefited from broadcasting seven games with more than a million viewers, all involving the Indian Fever. Notably, viewership among men ages 25-54 increased 181%.

Clark finished the season tied for seventh most points per game and led the league in assists per game. She set rookie records for total points in a season, assists per game and three-pointers made. She’s the only rookie ever with a triple-double — and she did it twice.

She scored the second most three-pointers ever in a season, falling just short of the all-time record.

WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes, who has never sounded overly enamored with Clark, recently said that the Fever star wasn’t yet “dominating” the league. Perhaps, but Clark’s numbers match or eclipse those that Swoopes amassed in her MVP seasons. Swoopes, for instance, averaged 18.5 points, 3.3 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game in 2002. Clark averaged 19.5 points, 8.4 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game this year — and, again, she’s a rookie.

Clark is a fierce competitor on the court and a modest voice off it, constantly expressing — and showing — deep gratitude for her rock-star-like following. She’s a role model in every way for her young fans, and her older ones can marvel at her skills while appreciating her class.

The Fever are making their first playoff appearance since 2016, after starting the season with a woeful 1-8. They might be bounced quickly, but, after an incredible post-Olympic-break surge, who knows?

Regardless, for sports fans along for the thrilling ride and WNBA players and executives benefiting from the boost to their business, the universal sentiment should be, “Thank you, Caitlin Clark.”

Rich Lowry is editor of the National Review.

(c) 2024 by King Features Synd., Inc.

Filed Under: 100324, Lowry, Opinion

Primary Sidebar

Seach our site

Follow us on Facebook

Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

Historian's Corner ... See MoreSee Less

Link thumbnail

Historian’s Corner

westhavenvoice.com

Historian’s Corner May 21, 2025 By whvoice Leave a Comment The West Haven Veterans Museum on Hood Terrace is making an effort to acquaint city students and youth in the history of service in the cit...
7 days ago
View Comments
  • likes Like 1
  • Comments: 0
  • Shares: 0
Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

0 CommentsComment on Facebook

Dear Felicia ... See MoreSee Less

Link thumbnail

Dear Felicia

westhavenvoice.com

Dear Felicia May 22, 2025 By whvoice Leave a Comment Howdy do, sweets! Hard to believe, but here we are at the downside of May, looking into the Memorial Day weekend already. Of course, like most thin...
1 week ago
View Comments
  • likes Like 0
  • Comments: 0
  • Shares: 0
Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

0 CommentsComment on Facebook

Pollution plant needs leadership, $$$ ... See MoreSee Less

Link thumbnail

Pollution plant needs leadership, $$$

westhavenvoice.com

Pollution plant needs leadership, $$$ May 21, 2025 By whvoice Leave a Comment By Richard Hebert and Bonnie Posick Research by Kyle Rich West Haven residents have been vocal about the city’s revaluat...
1 week ago
View Comments
  • likes Like 0
  • Comments: 0
  • Shares: 0
Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

0 CommentsComment on Facebook

HS Frosh cited by Mullins ... See MoreSee Less

Link thumbnail

HS frosh cited by Mullins

westhavenvoice.com

HS frosh cited by Mullins May 21, 2025 By whvoice Leave a Comment Steven R. Mullins presents his 10th annual awards to WHHS frosh Bibi Hadi. Steven R. Mullins presents his 10th annual awards to WHHS f...
1 week ago
View Comments
  • likes Like 0
  • Comments: 0
  • Shares: 0
Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

0 CommentsComment on Facebook

Load more

 

 

West Haven’s Calendar

Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons
West Haven Calendar
2 years ago
West Haven Calendar

Thursday Night Live (This one's on Friday!!!)

... See MoreSee Less

Link thumbnail

Thursday Night Live (This one's on Friday!!!)

tockify.com

Fri 23 Jun, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM [EDT]: Event by Milford Regional Chamber of Commerce, CT Old Grove Park Public · Anyone on or off Facebook West Haven summer concerts are back! Join us in West Haven thi...
View Comments
  • likes Like 0
  • Comments: 1
  • Shares: 0
Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

1 CommentsComment on Facebook

West Haven Calendar
2 years ago
West Haven Calendar

Mark Your West Haven Calendar

tockify.com/west.haven.calendar/detail/442/1686776400000

Business After Hours West Haven Veterans Museum
... See MoreSee Less

Link thumbnail

Business After Hours West Haven Veterans Museum

tockify.com

Wed 14 Jun, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM [EDT]: Business After Hours West Haven Veterans Museum West Haven Veterans Museum & Learning Center Event by Milford Regional Chamber of Commerce, CT West Haven Veterans ...
View Comments
  • likes Like 0
  • Comments: 0
  • Shares: 0
Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

0 CommentsComment on Facebook

West Haven Calendar
2 years ago
West Haven Calendar

Added for June 10th & 11th

tockify.com/west.haven.calendar/detail/443/1686405600000

West Haven Historical Society Open House
... See MoreSee Less

Link thumbnail

West Haven Historical Society Open House

tockify.com

Sat 10 Jun, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM [EDT]:
View Comments
  • likes Like 2
  • Comments: 1
  • Shares: 0
Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

1 CommentsComment on Facebook

Load more

Footer

Address

West Haven Voice
840 Boston Post Road
West Haven, CT

 

Contact us

Call (203) 934-6397

Contact form

SITE NAVIGATION

HOME
ABOUT US
ARCHIVE
ADVERTISE!
CLASSIFIED
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CONTACT US
WEB EXCLUSIVE

FIND US IN PRINT

Our print edition is available each Thursday. Here is a list of locations!

Letters Policy

Information on submitting letters to us.

Our submission deadlines.

Copyright © 2025 West Haven Voice, LLC