The WNBA has grown by leaps and bounds after Caitlin Clark’s emergence on the circuit. According to a report, the 28th season attracted an average of 657,000 viewers, which is the highest audience in the past 24 years. Indiana Fever’s games have crossed the million mark 19 times whereas only 3 more games have achieved the same feat. The attendance too has increased by over 50% from the last season. Hence, with such an impact of ‘The Caitlin Calrk Effect’ who better to compare her to than the golfing legend Tiger Woods himself?
On Saturday’s episode of The Sports Reporters, Adam Schefter gave his take on whether it is okay to compare Clark to Woods. “But you know here’s the thing, Jeremy. Again this morning we’re doing sports center, we’re doing get up. I’m seeing highlights of the WNBA and the last time I did sports reporters, I don’t remember the WNBA being a conversation in talking point. I don’t remember that being the case the fact that it is so prevalent in mainstream highlights that we’re talking about it. Here shows the growth of the sport, shows the power of Caitlin Clark. Shows you how many more people are paying attention to it,” Schefter stated.
via Imago
However, what the journalists ignored was that the league is still not profitable. As per reports, the W will be losing around $40 million and the owners do not see a gain in their investment in the near future. The NBA owns 60% of the league, and when combined with their stakes in the W and WNBA teams, it increases to 75%. While many analysts had predicted the league would lose $50 million, draining $40 million is even not less.
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“I think there are people that come along all the time that capture the imagination of the public. Caitlin Clark has grown all the eyes on that sport and I don’t know that there’s a figure that I could think of off the top of my head. That has had the influence and impact that she has had. But again I just think the whole sport has taken leaps and bounds, so we can talk about them needing leadership and getting used to all the ways that they’re being scrutinized. The attention this all comes along with being a big-time big league sport,” Schefter concluded.
As part of the new media contract starting in 2026, the WNBA will get $2.2 billion each year. But this doesn’t look to be saving the league since the athletes too want to withdraw from the CBA, which will increase how much the owners pay in fees and contracts. “We are not even getting any money from WNBA expansion fees,” one NBA executive team member says. Hopefully, while Clark is being compared to Woods, she will, along with other athletes, try to improve the money game in the W. As for her comparison, she has time and again got a place with Woods.
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Caitlin Clark is the next Tiger Woods according to ex-NFL starWhen Woods joined the PGA tour in 1996, there wasn’t much following for the sport. But in a few years, he changed the entire landscape. Golf became a popular sport as everyone wanted to see magic in action. And Woods provided them that. Therefore, when Clark has brought a lot of viewership to the W, ex-Baltimore Ravens star Robert Griffin III stated that her impact has been similar to that of Woods.
“Caitlin Clark haters are punching air right now… The WNBA All-Star votes say what most of us already knew. Caitlin Clark is the WNBA’s Tiger Woods. More people watch the W because of her. Period. Total votes increased by 598% for the top 5 players from 2023 to 2024,” Griffith stated.
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During her WNBA rookie season, Clark has received a lot of flak from haters. She has been questioned, pushed, and shoved to the ground many times. But that hasn’t impacted her ability to help her team win games. Therefore, according to Griffith, it’s her excellence that has powered the Fever to the WNBA playoffs and also got them major views.
Hopefully, Clark will be able to get more viewers and who knows if, soon, this league will make as much money as golf made during Woods’ dominance.
Source : EssentiallySports