Caitlin Clark proves yet again why she is currently the most hyped women’s basketball athlete at the moment. In a historic display, the NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer was at her absolute best as she led Indiana to their second win in the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup. However, apart from the record-breaking performance, the occasion made some significant headlines for one more reason
The basketball fans in Washington DC decided to make June 7 a day to remember for women’s basketball. Apparently, a total of 20,333 people were present at the Capital One Arena to witness Caitlin Clark in action. This is now the highest crowd in attendance for any WNBA game ever. In addition to this, her charisma was able to draw some very eminent names. These include second gentleman Doug Emhoff, Washington Mystics owners Sheila Johnson and Ted Leonsis, and LSU Head Coach Kim Mulkey. This marks the second consecutive night that Mulkey visited the Arena. In addition to this, the fixture also featured a half-time performance from popular American bassist and singer Bootsy Collins.
This is the largest attendance of any WNBA game EVER! Caitlin Clark is the reason 20,333 total tickets sold 🤑 pic.twitter.com/4SmDAKzGzc
— Aura Sports (@AuraSportsHQ) June 8, 2024
Anyhow, the 2× USBWA National Player of the Year lived to the expectations of such a high-profile attendance and delivered a masterpiece. Not only did she match her career-high tally of 30 points, but also joined Crystal Robinson for most threes in a game as a rookie. But, her 7 threes managed to break Tamika Catchings’ record of six with the franchise in 2002. Further, her 8 rebounds and 6 assists made her only the second rookie after Sabrina Ionescu to register a 30-5-5 line in a game.
Following this, fans have been going gaga over her historic exhibition. Seemingly, social media is flooded with multiple reactions heaping praises for the 6-foot-guard.
Fans hail the Caitlin Clark effect
Soon after her performance, X users wasted no time in showing their appreciation towards Caitlin Clark. Moreover, her game is seen parallel to that of NBA legend Larry Bird. Probably because both these athletes have the ability to captivate the audience and bring unmatched attention to the sport. However, the one thing that many would agree upon is that both possess the skill to score from every corner of the court. Keeping all that in mind, one reflected the comparison in the comment. The fan wrote,
Caitlin Clark is the Larry Bird of women’s basketball!.”
Caitlin Clark is the Larry Bird of women’s basketball!
— Sherri KC (@kc_sherri) June 8, 2024
Caitlin Clark’s rivalry with former LSU standout Angel Reese is nothing new for the fans. Just like the Bird-Johnson professional tussle, both these athletes have been going back and forth since the 2023 national championship game. The fact that she was able to achieve all the aforementioned glory in Reese’s hometown, became an amusing factor for some X users. One of them wrote, “In @Reese10Angel hometown.”
In @Reese10Angel hometown 😅
— World (@DaChiRex) June 8, 2024
Lately, Angel Reese has been very vocal about her contributions to women’s basketball. Ever since the Carter-Clark incident, she has indirectly stated she hasn’t received her fair share of credit for the upliftment of the sport as she has also drawn huge crowds. Be that as it may, the crowd present for Chicago’s game against the Mystics was around 10,000. This number is half of what the Caitlin Clark effect was able to garner. One X user was quick to point that out and wrote, “twice as many people tonight. puts that debate to rest lol.”
https://twitter.com/GoCubsGo75/status/1799260156964069785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1799260156964069785%7Ctwgr%5E7d40f3bb2f4984db0030ed5843d8c1500ba2e19f%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.essentiallysports.com%2Fwnba-basketball-news-larry-bird-of-womens-basketball-caitlin-clark-fans-corner-angel-reese-once-again-after-recording-breaking-wnba-game
Meanwhile, one of Clark’s supporters made use of hilarious GIFs to convey his point. The X user attached it next to the sarcastic comment which read, “Don’t forget it’s because of reese too!”
Don't forget it's because of reese too! pic.twitter.com/P6M3Qx9Q0v
— Monthly Earth Day + Impact NFTs (@HighlyArtistic) June 8, 2024
Caitlin Clark has been at the receiving end of heavy criticisms from Chennedy Carter lately. Yet, that doesn’t change the fact that Clark has the potential to provide sell-out stadiums for any WNBA game. Ever since her home debut which had 17,274 fans, Indiana has witnessed 82,857 fans to their five home games which average approximately 16,571 people per contest. Apparently, this has broken last year’s total home attendance. One Clark fan further reiterated it by expressing, “She is great for the game and what the female “BULLY” players don’t seem to understand is that because she brings sellout crowds to the WNBA in a couple of years their salaries will rise tremendously.”
https://twitter.com/FloridaSteve101/status/1799290153204408684?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1799290153204408684%7Ctwgr%5E7d40f3bb2f4984db0030ed5843d8c1500ba2e19f%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.essentiallysports.com%2Fwnba-basketball-news-larry-bird-of-womens-basketball-caitlin-clark-fans-corner-angel-reese-once-again-after-recording-breaking-wnba-game%2F
Undeniably, Caitlin Clark has transformed the dynamics of women’s basketball. Her skills and aptitude for the game have surely been instrumental in the promotion of the sport to new heights. What else she can achieve with her charisma? We’ll have to wait and see.
Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato had to say about the Reese-Clark rivalry and more, watch this video.
