Is Caitlin Clark a bigger star than any of the young NBA talent?

[TheSuzerain]

Why do we have to quantify everywhere she’s famous globally? We are framing this as a US centric viewpoint. If you have a power in Thailand saying she’s not popular there it doesn’t disqualify the entire thread. I would have thought that would be implied

It does highlight that leaving her off the Olympic team was one of the dumbest decisions of all time.

Anyone involved in that selection should no longer be welcome with Team USA.

She didn't deserve to be on the Olympic team at the time. Again, this highlights how Clark is an amazing player, but her fanbase is probably the worst in sports. The Olympic committee selected a team that won the gold medal, but should no longer be welcome...right.

Of course she did. She's the most famous women's player in the world and has been so for 2-3 years.

She's by far the most talented guard in the history of the women's game.

[shrink]

It does highlight that leaving her off the Olympic team was one of the dumbest decisions of all time.

Anyone involved in that selection should no longer be welcome with Team USA.

She didn't deserve to be on the Olympic team at the time. Again, this highlights how Clark is an amazing player, but her fanbase is probably the worst in sports. The Olympic committee selected a team that won the gold medal, but should no longer be welcome...right.

Of course she did. She's the most famous women's player in the world and has been so for 2-3 years.

Yes. Her popularity alone would have brought many more viewers to watch women’s basketball in the Olympics, and that could have been a gateway for even more WNBA fans than she just brought. Moreover, Team USA used every roster slot as a reward for WNBA success, and surely the 12th spot could have been given to Clark for her multi-record-breaking college career. There was far more discussion about Clark than all the WNBA players put together, so her omission from the team gives the appearance of jealousy, as do many of their interviews at the time. Worse, they defended the decision by saying that “fans would be angry she didn’t get more playing time” which is untrue (they could easily play her and get a gold medal) and exposes the fact that they wanted a team that THEY wanted, not the team that America wanted.

[Ice Man]

She didn't deserve to be on the Olympic team at the time.

That's not entirely true. When the team was selected, Clark was very early into her WNBA career and the other guards (except for Tauresi) had outplayed her. So, in that sense she didn't deserve selection.

However, it's the job of the people selecting the team to look forward, not just what is happening at the time. And by the time that the Olympics were played, Clark belonged. In fact, Cheryl Reeves struggled to find playable point guards in the gold medal game against France. The team very much needed a sparkplug creator, which is one reason why it only scored 67 points despite having the 3 best female hoopsters in the planet, with A'Ja, Steward, and Collier.

[CobraCommander]

No surprise. Outside or Lebron and Curry, she's a bigger star than all the rest of the NBA's elite. I wouldn't limit it to just young stars.

Who do you think your grandma knows more? Caitlyn Clark or Giannis and Jokic? Yeah, going with Caitlyn.

this is so true...a marketing firm would pick Curry, Lebron and Clark over anyone in the NBA.

if we talking headshots Clark is def more recognizable than any of the top 5 guys in nba- sga, luka, jokic, tatum and Giannis are not more recognizable or draw bigger on TV than Clark...

the nba is better than WNBA...but somehow clark is more important to sports media

[jc23]

she will sell out your stadium on the road, even after it is moved to an NBA stadium. Not sure what player under 25 in the nba does that.

[jc23]

for some reason there were no Clark commercials during the LIberty Fever game a few days ago but she had b2b commercials in the finals last night.

[jokeboy86]

It does highlight that leaving her off the Olympic team was one of the dumbest decisions of all time.

Anyone involved in that selection should no longer be welcome with Team USA.

She didn't deserve to be on the Olympic team at the time. Again, this highlights how Clark is an amazing player, but her fanbase is probably the worst in sports. The Olympic committee selected a team that won the gold medal, but should no longer be welcome...right.

Of course she did. She's the most famous women's player in the world and has been so for 2-3 years.

She's by far the most talented guard in the history of the women's game.

Most talented guard in the history of the women's game? How long have you been watching women's basketball lol?

[Lalouie]

has anyone seen the numbers on her affect on the wnba

[Ice Man]

Most talented guard in the history of the women's game?

Offensively, yes. Where she ranks as an all-around guard is a different question. Although I will point out that the Fever have been much better this season when Clark has been on the court than we she has been off -

On court +72
Off court +5

And due to how the scheduled played out with her injuries, she has been on court mostly against elite opponents, and off court mostly against scrub teams.

So, it's not just hype. She's winning games.

[Mephariel]

She didn't deserve to be on the Olympic team at the time. Again, this highlights how Clark is an amazing player, but her fanbase is probably the worst in sports. The Olympic committee selected a team that won the gold medal, but should no longer be welcome...right.

Of course she did. She's the most famous women's player in the world and has been so for 2-3 years.

Yes. Her popularity alone would have brought many more viewers to watch women’s basketball in the Olympics, and that could have been a gateway for even more WNBA fans than she just brought. Moreover, Team USA used every roster slot as a reward for WNBA success, and surely the 12th spot could have been given to Clark for her multi-record-breaking college career. There was far more discussion about Clark than all the WNBA players put together, so her omission from the team gives the appearance of jealousy, as do many of their interviews at the time. Worse, they defended the decision by saying that “fans would be angry she didn’t get more playing time” which is untrue (they could easily play her and get a gold medal) and exposes the fact that they wanted a team that THEY wanted, not the team that America wanted.

Again, the worst fanbase in sports. Hey, if you are the Olympic committee, lets just pick based on popularity! I mean, Angel Reese was more popular than a lot of those players on the roster. Should she been considered? Absolutely not. Clark could have been picked, but so could a lot of other players. Ultimately, the committee selected a team that won the gold medal for their country. But it is not the team America wanted? What more do you want? How about being happy for the players that made the team and won? Is that too much to ask? Again, instead of celebrating the players, let's bring them down. Even when they won.

[Mephariel]

She didn't deserve to be on the Olympic team at the time.

That's not entirely true. When the team was selected, Clark was very early into her WNBA career and the other guards (except for Tauresi) had outplayed her. So, in that sense she didn't deserve selection.

However, it's the job of the people selecting the team to look forward, not just what is happening at the time. And by the time that the Olympics were played, Clark belonged. In fact, Cheryl Reeves struggled to find playable point guards in the gold medal game against France. The team very much needed a sparkplug creator, which is one reason why it only scored 67 points despite having the 3 best female hoopsters in the planet, with A'Ja, Steward, and Collier.

You said it yourself. She didn't deserve the selection. The job of people selecting the team is to pick a team that wins. They did. In hindsight, you can always pick faults with the team and maybe a point sparkplug creator would have helped. Did it have to be Clark though? What about other creators? The men's basketball team had a tight game with France as well, and Serbia. You can put together a roster a hundred different ways. At the end of the day, they won. That is all that matters.

[thelead]

I wouldn’t go out of my way to find her game on tv but if my choices were watching Caitlin or the current Wizards, I’m watching Caitlin.

[mg]

Caitlin's name recognition is higher than any young player in the NBA or NHL. Lebron and maybe Curry are the only players in either sport that have more name recognition to the average American and they are both near retirement.

It also shows how lame the NBA has been in marketing their young starts.

[shrink]

Of course she did. She's the most famous women's player in the world and has been so for 2-3 years.

Yes. Her popularity alone would have brought many more viewers to watch women’s basketball in the Olympics, and that could have been a gateway for even more WNBA fans than she just brought. Moreover, Team USA used every roster slot as a reward for WNBA success, and surely the 12th spot could have been given to Clark for her multi-record-breaking college career. There was far more discussion about Clark than all the WNBA players put together, so her omission from the team gives the appearance of jealousy, as do many of their interviews at the time. Worse, they defended the decision by saying that “fans would be angry she didn’t get more playing time” which is untrue (they could easily play her and get a gold medal) and exposes the fact that they wanted a team that THEY wanted, not the team that America wanted.

Again, the worst fanbase in sports. Hey, if you are the Olympic committee, lets just pick based on popularity! I mean, Angel Reese was more popular than a lot of those players on the roster. Should she been considered? Absolutely not. Clark could have been picked, but so could a lot of other players. Ultimately, the committee selected a team that won the gold medal for their country. But it is not the team America wanted? What more do you want? How about being happy for the players that made the team and won? Is that too much to ask? Again, instead of celebrating the players, let's bring them down. Even when they won.

I know I will never convince you, but at least take a moment to consider the view of ..umm… The United States?

After all Team USA represents the USA. You may disagree, but this is not “Team WNBA.”

The reason Clark’s exclusion was such big news, is because most of AMERICA (you know, the group you constantly, childishly, call “the worst fanbase”) wanted the popular Clark in the Olympics, representing them and the country. As I said, Team USA wins gold with or without Clark, and the WNBA “old girls club” who made the selections chose their own personal biases over the inclusion that so many Americans wanted.

[D.Brasco]

The way she's being treated in her league by the other players is pretty wild. Can't see any star or player in the NBA being allowed to be subjected to this treatment.

[Ice Man]

The way she's being treated in her league by the other players is pretty wild.

Clark is really really good and really really chippy. Like if Steph was as phsyical as Stockton, while talking Larry Bird level trash. Clark is gonna get hit a lot during her career.

[D.Brasco]

The way she's being treated in her league by the other players is pretty wild.

Clark is really really good and really really chippy. Like if Steph was as phsyical as Stockton, while talking Larry Bird level trash. Clark is gonna get hit a lot during her career.

Understood, but where are her teammates to come back at the players who are assaulting her? They'd be dragging Daymond out in cuffs from the arena, if they ganged up on Steph like that.

[Mephariel]

Yes. Her popularity alone would have brought many more viewers to watch women’s basketball in the Olympics, and that could have been a gateway for even more WNBA fans than she just brought. Moreover, Team USA used every roster slot as a reward for WNBA success, and surely the 12th spot could have been given to Clark for her multi-record-breaking college career. There was far more discussion about Clark than all the WNBA players put together, so her omission from the team gives the appearance of jealousy, as do many of their interviews at the time. Worse, they defended the decision by saying that “fans would be angry she didn’t get more playing time” which is untrue (they could easily play her and get a gold medal) and exposes the fact that they wanted a team that THEY wanted, not the team that America wanted.

Again, the worst fanbase in sports. Hey, if you are the Olympic committee, lets just pick based on popularity! I mean, Angel Reese was more popular than a lot of those players on the roster. Should she been considered? Absolutely not. Clark could have been picked, but so could a lot of other players. Ultimately, the committee selected a team that won the gold medal for their country. But it is not the team America wanted? What more do you want? How about being happy for the players that made the team and won? Is that too much to ask? Again, instead of celebrating the players, let's bring them down. Even when they won.

I know I will never convince you, but at least take a moment to consider the view of ..umm… The United States?

After all Team USA represents the USA. You may disagree, but this is not “Team WNBA.”

The reason Clark’s exclusion was such big news, is because most of AMERICA (you know, the group you constantly, childishly, call “the worst fanbase”) wanted the popular Clark in the Olympics, representing them and the country. As I said, Team USA wins gold with or without Clark, and the WNBA “old girls club” who made the selections chose their own personal biases over the inclusion that so many Americans wanted.

You are right, it is not Team WNBA. It is Team USA. I am going to repeat this. It is Team USA, NOT Team Caitlin Clark. Do you understand this?

The committee selected a a team that won the gold medal for their country. You can should have, what if all you want, but the team succeeded in their goal. Should we now just let fans pick the Olympic roster? Is that what you are suggesting?

You have the audacity to call someone childish, when you throw a hissy fit over your favorite player not making a team, and refuse to celebrate the team that won the gold for USA. That is childish, no?

[dhsilv2]

No surprise. Outside or Lebron and Curry, she's a bigger star than all the rest of the NBA's elite. I wouldn't limit it to just young stars.

Who do you think your grandma knows more? Caitlyn Clark or Giannis and Jokic? Yeah, going with Caitlyn.

this is so true...a marketing firm would pick Curry, Lebron and Clark over anyone in the NBA.

if we talking headshots Clark is def more recognizable than any of the top 5 guys in nba- sga, luka, jokic, tatum and Giannis are not more recognizable or draw bigger on TV than Clark...

the nba is better than WNBA...but somehow clark is more important to sports media

So I know TV and social media aren't the same thing. But Clark has 3.3 million instagram followers. And I don't even use insta so maybe it's a bad metric, but it seems to be what people quote all the time for how famous someone is.

3.3 million would have hear tied with DeRozan, behind Love and Tristan Thompson. Wemby being the young up and comer people tend to talk about with 4.5 million.

So if she's actually THAT big in terms of TV, why isn't it translating to social media?

3.3 million would have her around 36th-37th among nba players.

[Mephariel]

No surprise. Outside or Lebron and Curry, she's a bigger star than all the rest of the NBA's elite. I wouldn't limit it to just young stars.

Who do you think your grandma knows more? Caitlyn Clark or Giannis and Jokic? Yeah, going with Caitlyn.

this is so true...a marketing firm would pick Curry, Lebron and Clark over anyone in the NBA.

if we talking headshots Clark is def more recognizable than any of the top 5 guys in nba- sga, luka, jokic, tatum and Giannis are not more recognizable or draw bigger on TV than Clark...

the nba is better than WNBA...but somehow clark is more important to sports media

So I know TV and social media aren't the same thing. But Clark has 3.3 million instagram followers. And I don't even use insta so maybe it's a bad metric, but it seems to be what people quote all the time for how famous someone is.

3.3 million would have hear tied with DeRozan, behind Love and Tristan Thompson. Wemby being the young up and comer people tend to talk about with 4.5 million.

So if she's actually THAT big in terms of TV, why isn't it translating to social media?

3.3 million would have her around 36th-37th among nba players.

3.3 million is pretty impressive for someone that didn't have that much time to cement herself. Keep in mind that Clark is in her second year. She hasn't won a lot of accolades yet. DeRozen has been in the NBA for like 16 years. Same with Love and Thompson. Wemby has international appeal and was hyped up as a unicorn before even playing a meaningful game. Let see how fast her social grows year to year.

Also the fact that the NBA is just a lot bigger than the WNBA.