Stephen A. Smith Reminds WNBA of Caitlyn Clark’s Impact After Indiana Fever’s Elimination
Stephen A. Smith has reminded the WNBA of the reality brought by Indiana Fever’s Caitlyn Clark, who was drafted first overall in April. Clark has quickly made a significant impact in the league, with her impressive performances leading to a notable increase in television viewership, ticket sales, and jersey sales.
On a recent episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, Smith highlighted just how dramatic this increase has been, particularly after the Fever were eliminated from the WNBA playoffs by the Connecticut Sun on September 25. Game one of that series drew nearly 1.84 million viewers, while game two attracted 2.54 million viewers. To put this into perspective, Smith compared these numbers to the semifinal matchup between the top-seeded New York Liberty and the defending champion Las Vegas Aces. Clarkâs game two viewership doubled that of the semifinal matchup.
Smith noted that game one of the Aces-Liberty matchup on Sunday averaged 929,000 viewers, a decent number for the WNBA on an NFL Sunday. However, this figure was down nearly 50% from the Fever’s contest the previous Sunday. Not only did viewership decline, but attendance did as well.
Smith is no stranger to discussing Clark’s impact on the league. He has consistently praised her talent, emphasizing that the increased attention the WNBA has received is largely due to her presence. This was evident in the major drop in viewership after the Fever were eliminated.
“Do you want me to just say ‘I told you so,’ or are you willing to admit that Stephen A. told you?” Smith asked.
During her rookie season, Clark achieved remarkable feats, winning the Rookie of the Year award, finishing fourth in the MVP voting, and breaking the single-season assist record, among other accolades. Despite her impressive achievements, some critics have downplayed her greatness. Smith made sure to address this as well, noting that while there are few, some individuals resent the success of this young white girl who has made her mark in the league.
“There are very few people, but there are some out there who resent the fact that this young white girl came out there and did her thing,” Smith stated. “Rookie of the Year, fourth in the league for MVP voting, assist leader, and one of the top scorers.”
Smith also shared his thoughts on Clark being left off the Team USA basketball roster for the 2024 Paris Olympics, suggesting that if more people were receptive to her, the WNBA could gain even more attention worldwide.
Clark’s 2024 campaign included averages of 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 8.4 assists per game. Fans will have to wait until next April to see Clark back on the court. In the meantime, they can catch both game threes of the WNBA semifinals on Friday night, featuring the Lynx vs. Sun and the Liberty vs. Aces.
