Caitlin Clark has made numerous comparisons in her attacks on the record.
Her prolific scoring ability and talent are reminiscent of “Pistol Pete” Maravich. One of her nicknames is Ponytail Pete. She's like Steph Curry in her insane ability to hit from anywhere at any time. And her late game daggers and subsequent trash talk are vintage girlfriend Diana Taurasi. Interestingly, yes.
But while all these comparisons are valid, they are also insufficient. Because Clark is more than just her game. Considering the tremendous influence she has off the court, there is only one other player like her.
Michael Jordan.
Jordan wasn't just the greatest player in the history of the game — don't get mad, LeBron fans — he transcended the sport. He and others too. He was a cultural sensation and thereby elevated his NBA.
Indeed, the rivalry between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird saved the NBA from the dark days of the '80s, when drug use among players was rampant and games weren't even broadcast live on television. In 1986, some playoff games still had tape delay processing.
But it was Jordan who made the league and the people who play in it a worldwide phenomenon.
Even if you don't like the NBA or have no interest in any sports, you probably knew who Michael Jordan was. In the '90s, his jerseys were ubiquitous, his shoes and commercials became even more popular, and kids all over the country flocked to the court hoping to be “just like Mike.” Jordans were so woven into the cultural fabric of our society that they became a de facto member of every American household.
It wasn't just the US. Jordan had already won two NBA titles when he played with the Dream Team at the Barcelona Olympics, and even the possibility of catching a glimpse of “MJ” in a hotel lobby or on a bus is enough to draw a crowd of fans. was. Even those who had never seen him in person were inspired to buy the products he suggested or join the games. This includes future Hall of Famers.
Clark's influence may not have been as far-reaching yet, but it remains transformative.
Interest in women's sports has rapidly increased in recent years. Her viewership numbers during last year's NCAA basketball tournament erased previous records, with nearly 10 million viewers watching Clark's Iowa finals against his team and her LSU alone.
Franchise values in the NWSL and WNBA are rising, and so are TV ratings for both leagues. The NCAA just signed a deal with ESPN that values the women's basketball tournament at $65 million a year, and the NWSL reached a four-year, $240 million deal for media rights. Nike valued Sabrina Ionescu enough to give her her own pair of shoes, and Puma gifted two-time WNBA MVP Brianna Stewart with a pair of signature sneakers.
But like Jordan, Clark is looking to capitalize on this increased interest and add rocket fuel to it.
Every match she plays, home or away, is played in front of a sold-out crowd. Tickets for Wednesday night's game, which she broke just over two minutes into the first quarter, were the second-most expensive in history, with courtside seats costing more than $3,100 each. Little boys and girls clamor for her jersey, and fans line up hours before games in hopes of getting a spot where she can be seen as she enters and exits the court to warm up. Or better yet, get an autograph.
“It's really humbling,” Clark's father, Brent, said in an interview during Sunday's FOX national broadcast of the Iowa-Nebraska game. “This is how every sporting event should be. Women's basketball is great.”
And thanks to my daughter, more people now know about it.
As Clark moved closer and closer to setting the NCAA women's all-time scoring record, it wasn't just women's basketball fans who took notice. Or the people of Iowa. Her matches are now being shown in sports bars across the country, with men and women watching and stopping to check the scores.
NBA stars regularly praised her on social media. Patrick Mahomes agreed with her, calling her “one of the best college basketball players to ever play.”
Last Thursday's game between Iowa and Penn State drew 612,000 viewers on the Big Ten Network, a record for a women's sporting event. Fox aired Sunday's game between Iowa State and Nebraska on national television, drawing 1.8 million viewers, a record for the network.
Just as Jordan was once a fixture in every American's living room, it's becoming impossible to watch a sporting event or show without seeing Clark in a State Farm commercial. She also has a deal with Nike, and if her manufacturer is smart, they will provide her with her own shoes. and Treat it like Jordan.
Now that Clark has surpassed Kelsey Plum, interest in him shows no signs of waning. Maravich's all-time scoring record still stands. Her professional career will be as well, whether it begins next her WNBA season or the season after.
But the beauty of the spotlight on Clark applies to others just as much as it does to Jordan. Those who watched Sunday's game against Nebraska hoping for a record-breaker for Clark were instead treated to a tight, compelling game that featured plenty of athleticism, hustle, and yes, some trash talk. I saw it. Casual basketball fans may not have known Jazz Shelley's name until Sunday, but they definitely do now.
And it continues. Like Jordan, Clark will be the entry point into the game for many, but they will soon find their interest grows beyond her. Just as the NBA looked different before and after Jordan, women's sports will be different because of Clark.
Follow USA TODAY sports columnist Nancy Armor on social media @nrarmour.
