While South Carolina topped Iowa in the women’s NCAA national championship game this month, Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley is giving sole credit to former Hawkeyes superstar Caitlin Clark for the recent ratings boost in the sport.
Indeed, this year’s tournament drew in record numbers when Clark was on the court. To Staley, the impact that the new Indiana Fever guard had on women’s basketball is immense.
Speaking with 670 The Score about spreading awareness for the sport, Staley argued that Clark is “the sole reason” for the ratings boost the game has experienced recently, and that her popularity helps bring awareness to other deserving athletes in the sport when they play each other.
“Caitlin Clark is the sole reason why viewership has shot through the roof for our game,” Staley told the radio show. “And I think the decision-makers are following suit in making sure that other games are being played besides Caitlin Clark because, if you play Caitlin Clark, you’re going to run up against somebody that you might find that’s pretty good.”
"Caitlin Clark is the sole reason why viewership has shot through the roof for our game — the sole reason," South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley says.
Listen to Staley's full interview with @dan_bernstein @LaurenceWHolmes @leilarahimi: https://t.co/qsooRwlvgj pic.twitter.com/BcmmTvkGBg
— 670 The Score (@670TheScore) April 17, 2024
Staley’s sentiments make sense in the way that rising tides lift all boats, and Clark’s popularity absolutely drew audiences in and exposed them to more of the college game’s bright stars.
However, others might argue that while Clark may have been the main reason for the recent ratings boost, there were other standouts in the game that played a key role in the recent elevation of awareness.
Either way, Staley is an authoritative voice in women’s college basketball, and her praise of Clark’s impact on the game holds major credence.
