Caitlin Clark’s move to WNBA could revolutionize basketball forever

When Caitlin Clark decided to forego her final eligibility year in college for the WNBA, many thought this to be counterproductive towards her earnings as a college player. However, her decision has already set in motion a chain of events, which is now showing that Clark’s decision is sound. In a way, Clark’s move could revolutionize basketball forever.

Until now, basketball was all about the men’s league, the NBA. It has forever been the pinnacle of the game. Fans around the world wait for the season to start and stay glued until the Larry O’Brien trophy is lifted. The same could not be said about the women’s game. Even though they have had some stars in their history, none have had the impact Caitlin Clark has even before setting foot onto a WNBA court.

The all-time leading scorer in NCAA D1 history is already making a lot of money through her NIL deals. By moving to the WNBA, she will carry forward those earnings. But it will also help her to pave the way for more earnings in the league. By doing so, she could also inspire college stars to move to the WNBA once they are eligible. Her superstardom could have a phenomenal effect on the league and basketball as a whole.

The WNBA’s increasing popularity, better revenue and pay

So far, the WNBA was synonymous with good basketball, but not many fans would watch the games. Back-to-back championship wins by the Las Vegas Aces have helped to improve the ratings considerably. Last season’s title defense against the superstar-laden New York Liberty had the highest ratings of any WNBA game to date.

But Caitlin Clark could have an even bigger domino effect. Reports suggest that the Indiana Fever season ticket prices have doubled owing to the demand created by her impending arrival. That itself is unheard of as generally, WNBA teams struggle to fill out arenas and suffer losses year on year. It could be the first time that the teams and the league make a profit.

Profit comes from good revenue, and good revenue translates to better salaries. Until now, a majority of women’s basketball players take their skills overseas in a bid to earn more than the paltry paychecks they receive from their franchises. If Caitlin Clark’s superstardom brings more revenue into the league, ultimately the revenue-sharing model could bring in higher overall salaries.

To cite an example, games featuring Caitlin Clark are being watched over those of the NBA. That is her impact, which could translate over to the WNBA and bring about unheard-of revenues. If the league sees a positive increase in viewership, a new TV Broadcasting deal, endorsements and other deals would ensure an enormous increase in revenue.

Cashing in on the Sabrina Ionescu vs Stephen Curry contest

The NBA took a bold decision to pit Stephen Curry against Sabrina Ionescu for a 3-point contest. Under the spotlight of the All-Star Weekend, the two performed admirably, making the basketball world want more. That contest was the highest-rated event of the entire All-Star Weekend. It speaks volumes as to how far the women’s game has come.

It also indicates that it may be time to mash the two genders into special competitions year after year. The New York Liberty star was asked if she would be pairing up with Clark in next year’s contest. That shows the excitement fans and viewers have towards the format. But obviously, it requires such elite talent to come from the WNBA. Ionescu’s record-breaking 3-point contest in the WNBA All-Star weekend set the stage for this mashup contest.

Therefore, it is clear that women’s basketball players are slowly bridging the gap with men in terms of scoring and gameplay. Since the post-up game has almost disappeared from the NBA, it could pave the way for a more nonphysical style of basketball. Scoring off the dribble or pass is something female stars thrive on. Therefore, it won’t be an impossible task to even have a mixed-gender All-Star game in the future.

The current NCAA tournament viewership records have confirmed that the women’s game is viewed as much as the men’s. Such a situation would be unheard of before. In fact, the WNBA has struggled with viewership since its inception. Imagine what if more stars such as Clark enters the WNBA.

Caitlin Clark could draw the golden generation of college stars into the WNBA

Currently, women’s college basketball has quite a few superstars, stars who have more fan following and viewers than WNBA as well as NBA players. But they are happy to play into their graduate years considering the incredible amount of money they can earn through the NIL deals. The WNBA’s earnings do not make it lucrative for them to skip their final years in college.

Just for context, most men’s college players jump to the NBA after one season, in hopes of earning millions. Female players do not have that luxury as of now. The average salary in the WNBA is $120,000, a far cry from the NBA’s average of $10 million. In fact, LSU star Angel Reese was vocal about this situation. She suggested that her NIL earnings are more than any WNBA player does at the moment.

College superstars such as Paige Bueckers, Juju Watkins, Reese and others could move to the WNBA and create a positive impact. Never before have there been so many generationally great players coming out of the women’s game. What is fascinating is that most of them are already labeled as superstars.

Stars bring more viewers to any sport. In the likelihood that these scenarios pan out, superstar Caitlin Clark could cause a revolution in the game of basketball.

In case you missed:

• ‘Hyped up’ Russell Wilson has a ‘2-word’ reaction to DJ Burns Jr’s Wolfpack beating Duke to reach Final Four of March Madness
• Chiefs’ Chris Jones boldly claims women’s basketball games are ‘more exciting’ than men’s after thrilling Caitlin Clark vs. Angel Reese showdown

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