The Uncertain Future of Women's Basketball Without Caitlyn Clark
The departure of Caitlyn Clark from the college basketball scene has left a significant void, and the early returns suggest that women's basketball may struggle to maintain its recent surge in popularity.
Angel Reese, the former star at LSU, has also moved on to the professional ranks, but her transition has not been as smooth. Reese was unable to sell out home games at LSU, and that lack of drawing power has carried over to the WNBA. The media's attempts to credit Reese and other players like Paige Bueckers for the rise in women's basketball popularity have been misguided, as Caitlyn Clark has been the driving force behind the elevation of both the college and professional game.
The recent nationally televised games featuring the former Iowa star Caitlyn Clark have been a stark contrast to her time at Iowa. Her first nationally televised game last season drew 583,000 viewers, while the recent matchup between Iowa and Virginia Tech on ESPN2 only managed 209,000 viewers. Similarly, the game between Iowa and Toledo on the Big Ten Network drew a meager 136,000 viewers.
These numbers highlight the heavy reliance of basketball, more than any other sport, on star power. Without Caitlyn Clark, women's college basketball is struggling to attract an audience, and this could foreshadow what might happen to the WNBA in the future.
The launch of the new women's basketball league, Unrivaled, in January could pose a significant challenge to the WNBA. Unrivaled will feature current WNBA players, and with the potential for players to participate in both leagues, the WNBA may face financial competition for the first time.
There are even concerns that the bad blood between TNT and the NBA could lead the network to use Unrivaled as a way to get revenge on the NBA by offering WNBA players significantly more money than the WNBA can. This scenario, while speculative, is a possibility that the WNBA and its commissioner, Cathy Engelbert, should be considering.
This season in women's college basketball is a critical one, as the ratings and audience engagement will likely serve as a barometer for the future of the WNBA. If the struggles continue without Caitlyn Clark, it could be a warning sign for the professional league, which has enjoyed a monopoly on women's professional basketball for the past 30 years.
The emergence of Unrivaled and the potential for financial competition could further complicate the landscape, and the WNBA must be prepared to adapt and evolve to maintain its relevance in the ever-changing world of women's sports.
Part 1/5:
The Uncertain Future of Women's Basketball Without Caitlyn Clark
The departure of Caitlyn Clark from the college basketball scene has left a significant void, and the early returns suggest that women's basketball may struggle to maintain its recent surge in popularity.
The Decline of Angel Reese and the WNBA
Part 2/5:
Angel Reese, the former star at LSU, has also moved on to the professional ranks, but her transition has not been as smooth. Reese was unable to sell out home games at LSU, and that lack of drawing power has carried over to the WNBA. The media's attempts to credit Reese and other players like Paige Bueckers for the rise in women's basketball popularity have been misguided, as Caitlyn Clark has been the driving force behind the elevation of both the college and professional game.
The Ratings Struggle
Part 3/5:
The recent nationally televised games featuring the former Iowa star Caitlyn Clark have been a stark contrast to her time at Iowa. Her first nationally televised game last season drew 583,000 viewers, while the recent matchup between Iowa and Virginia Tech on ESPN2 only managed 209,000 viewers. Similarly, the game between Iowa and Toledo on the Big Ten Network drew a meager 136,000 viewers.
These numbers highlight the heavy reliance of basketball, more than any other sport, on star power. Without Caitlyn Clark, women's college basketball is struggling to attract an audience, and this could foreshadow what might happen to the WNBA in the future.
The Emergence of Unrivaled
Part 4/5:
The launch of the new women's basketball league, Unrivaled, in January could pose a significant challenge to the WNBA. Unrivaled will feature current WNBA players, and with the potential for players to participate in both leagues, the WNBA may face financial competition for the first time.
There are even concerns that the bad blood between TNT and the NBA could lead the network to use Unrivaled as a way to get revenge on the NBA by offering WNBA players significantly more money than the WNBA can. This scenario, while speculative, is a possibility that the WNBA and its commissioner, Cathy Engelbert, should be considering.
The Critical Season Ahead
Part 5/5:
This season in women's college basketball is a critical one, as the ratings and audience engagement will likely serve as a barometer for the future of the WNBA. If the struggles continue without Caitlyn Clark, it could be a warning sign for the professional league, which has enjoyed a monopoly on women's professional basketball for the past 30 years.
The emergence of Unrivaled and the potential for financial competition could further complicate the landscape, and the WNBA must be prepared to adapt and evolve to maintain its relevance in the ever-changing world of women's sports.