Author: lehang1

After starting the season 7-1, the Butler is stuck in a rut. Currently, being on a 7-6 result, the responsibility of assistant coach Connor McCaffery just got bigger. The Bulldogs had three players in doubt digits but still lost 78-74 to Dan Hurley’s UConn Huskies. Even the WNBA’s Rookie of the Year’s presence couldn’t inspire them to stop their losing streak.

The commentators had to add, “take our word for it.” Since the Fever Guard had her head down, probably taking care of stuff from her phone. With her head down, she also had a Butler cap, which made it even more difficult for the audience to guess.

That’s why the commentators made a PSA. Her presence earned the nickname ‘lucky charm’, as the Bulldogs were on a roll. But that sadly is broken after today’s result.

Now, the proceedings for the Butler will resume in the new year. So, till then, Connor McCaffery and Caitlin Clark will look to spend quality time off the court during the holidays. And maybe the rejuvenation needed for the Butler team will be visible as well.

In terms of the last five games, this was the second-closest defeat. The second half was much better for the Bulldogs as they came out on top 41-36 and even tied the score at one point. With just 4:20 left in the game, the Butler came back and the scores were 63. 7-ft-1 center Andre Screen had a double-double (17 points and 10 rebounds) for Butler, Patrick McCaffrey added 17 points, and Pierre Brooks 13.

However, in the world of what ifs, the reigning WNBA rookie could have helped the Bulldogs in the close defeat.

Caitlin Clark’s presence could have inspired another win

In a blowout loss to the Houston Cougars, the top scorers were Patrick McCaffery and Augusto Cassia with 11 points each. The Bulldogs could only score 51 and conceded 79 points. That loss meant their winning streak of six games came to an end. And now the losing streak stands at 5 games. In this game, Sophomore Augusto Cassia couldn’t feature because he is still out with an injury,

Despite tonight’s it was much closer, as already mentioned, the Butler made a comeback in the second half. UConn had a 16-point gap in the first half, but couldn’t turn it into a huge victory. Even their last game turned out to be an overtime win. For the defending national champions, it’s never a nice look when an unranked team like the Bulldogs takes them to the wire.

Karaban finished with a game-high 21 points and McNeeley added 17 points and 7 assists. Diarra scored 12 points and also contributed with 7 assists of his own.

For Connor McCaffery, the task would be to start the same way, they ended this game. Because Butler didn’t score its first field goal until five minutes into the game. If they could have done that, Caitlin Clark’s lucky charm, moniker, and streak wouldn’t have been broken.

Caitlin Clark’s first workout with her new Indiana Fever coach, Stephanie White, has taken the basketball world by storm. The 2025 Rookie of the Year (ROTY) wasted no time getting back to work this offseason. The video, now live on YouTube, shows Clark rigorously honing her skills. Stephanie White left her post on the Connecticut Sun to stay close to her family, and now White hopes to push Clark to the next level. The Fever saw an opportunity to get White home and she’s already making a difference.

According to basketball star Rachel Annamarie DeMita, the Clark and White duo is practicing the “NBA’s forgotten art“ while playing to Clark’s strengths. DeMita noted in her YouTube reaction to the workout, “They are focusing so much on her mid-range game, which she has in her bag. A lot of people expect her to just be launching threes, but the mid-range game in the NBA is completely dead. So, I love the fact that she’s still working on it.” White’s hands-on coaching came through loud and clear at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse as she guided Clark through a variety of drills at the gym.

The session was about versatility and technique. It covered everything rather from step-back jumpers to floaters and pull-ups.  Clark then maneuvered past more advanced dribbling drills before moving on to cleaning up her shooting from different spots. Step-back jumpers, aggressive drives, comfortable pull-ups, tricky floaters, and of course, her trademark three-pointers.

Rachel Annamarie also commented, “It seems like most of these workouts she’s working on her touch around the rim and she is working on her mid range game… Caitlyn Clark is fast, she is not speediest of all but she has really good handles. Doesn’t turn the ball over too much by just getting stripped and she will be hard to guard if you have to guard her more… more downhill essentially.” If she can rebound, dribble her way past defenders and sink shots from far outside the basket close to the logo, then she’s one incredibly skilled and versatile player.

“Something that’s really impressive with her game is her start and stop like she can be going full speed and then pull up for a three anywhere”, DeMita added. Though the new WNBA season is months away, Clark’s dedication now will likely pay dividends when it counts most. A visible physical transformation also was noted about ROTY in the Fever’s workout preview. But the good news for her future WNBA competition is that she developed some muscle mass. And the extra strength will only increase her already dazzling scoring display. So that she will become an even more frightening presence on the court

. There’s more to Clark’s relentless offseason grind than simply becoming a perfect player—it’s the source of her meteoric climb from fan favorite to record-breaker.

Indiana Fever superstar is rewriting history and capturing millions of fans with her skills and achievements. Her meteoric rise hit another milestone recently. When she became the first woman to break into the Professional Sports Authenticator’s (PSA) top 10 most-collected basketball players of the year. NBA icons Victor Wembanyama, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Anthony Edwards were the only players ahead of Clark in the top six.

Her trading cards are literally flying off the shelves and demand for them has exploded, with 77,000 graded, an incredible number compared to her competitors. For context, potential 2025 WNBA No. 1 pick Paige Bueckers had only 5,400 cards graded. Her popularity also left Chicago Bulls standout Angel Reese far behind. While Reese managed 4,700 graded cards, Clark’s total was 16 times higher. StubHub has reported ticket sales for Indiana Fever games are up 90-fold from 2023. Clark, who was named TIME’s Athlete of the Year, has continued to be a source of inspiration to fans.

The Angel Reese-Caitlin Clark rivalry is stepping into a whole new arena. Back when Caitlin Clark signed her massive $28 million Nike deal, fans couldn’t stop buzzing. She was still in college, and her stardom skyrocketed. However, there was a promise in that deal, a signature shoe. Fast forward to now, the brand has announced it won’t be dropping until 2026. And let’s just say fans are not thrilled.

On the flip side, Angel Reese signed with a multiyear endorsement extension in October, and it’s already paying off big time. Did you know Reebok’s parent company, Authentic Brands Group, is worth a whopping $18 billion? That means the Chi-Town Barbie is aligning herself with some serious financial muscle.

And like Clark, Reese will also have to wait until 2026 for her signature sneaker, but her PEs (player exclusives) are already out, and they are fire. From a Chicago Sky-themed design featuring her bold “A” logo to a playful Barbie-pink pair with “Barbie” splashed across the upper, they are super eye-catching.

Each pair is funky, stylish, and full of personality, just like Reese herself. Fans are eating it up, and Sky Forward is having fun with it, teasing on social media, “These are only PE’s!! Wait until 2026, and my actual shoe comes out”. If these PEs are any indication, her signature shoe is going to be a home run.

Meanwhile, Clark’s fans are getting restless. Nike’s CEO, Elliot Hill, revealed during a Q2 earnings call that her signature shoe wouldn’t hit the market until 2026, sparking frustration and even anger among her loyal followers. Fans feel like Nike is dragging its feet, and the backlash is growing louder by the day.

Meanwhile, as much as the 22-year-old enjoys this, she also puts in the work on the court.

After a wrist injury cut her rookie WNBA season short, Reese is now gearing up for the highly anticipated debut of the Unrivaled League, a groundbreaking 3×3 women’s basketball league set to kick off in January 2025. And she’s not taking any chances.

To prepare, Reese has enlisted elite trainer David Alexander. If his name rings a bell, it’s because he’s trained some of the biggest names in sports, including LeBron James. Alexander shared a clip of their session, captioning it, “𝐇𝐄𝐑! @angelreese5 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟏 / 𝐏𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝟏”.

And Reese isn’t just hitting the gym; she’s putting in marathon hours off the court, too. Earlier this week, she gave fans a sneak peek into her life, sharing a Snapchat story from an 8-hour shoot. “Let the 8 hr shoot BEGINNN,” she wrote, looking a little tired but absolutely determined.

So here we are, both Reese and Clark gearing up for a 2026 sneaker showdown. Reese’s flashy PEs are already building hype, while Clark’s delayed shoe has left her fans frustrated with Nike. When 2026 rolls around, this rivalry isn’t just going to be about hoops. It’s going to be about who can own the sneaker game. Who do you think is going to win? Let us know in the comments below.

With the WNBA offseason in full swing, Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark has been making appearances at various events and games across the country. One team she has consistently shown support for since the start of college basketball season is the Butler Bulldogs.

The reason behind her unwavering support? Her boyfriend, former Iowa Hawkeyes standout Connor McCaffery, is currently an assistant coach on Butler’s staff. On Saturday, the Bulldogs faced off against the back-to-back national champion UConn Huskies in one of their biggest games of the season.

Clark, who also attended Iowa, is set to have her jersey retired in February in recognition of her historic career with the Hawkeyes women’s basketball program, where she cemented her place as one of the greatest college basketball players of all time.

Now that both Caitlin and Connor’s collegiate careers at Iowa are behind them, Clark has turned her attention to supporting Butler, making a special appearance on Saturday afternoon.

Clark capped off her remarkable and generational rookie season a few months ago with the Indiana Fever, leading the team to the postseason for the first time since 2016.

Not only did she earn a spot on the All-WNBA team and make her debut in the WNBA All-Star Game, but she also led the entire league in assists. Clark was one of the best players in the league over the second half of the season, following the Olympic hiatus. She earned multiple Player of the Week honors and was even named Player of the Month in the final stretch of the regular season.

Caitlin Clark and Connor McCaffery.

Now gearing up for her sophomore year, Clark and the Fever are set to look a little different under new head coach Stephanie White. With a new vision in place, the team is focused on competing for a WNBA title in the coming season.

USC women’s basketball coach Lindsay Gottlieb is used to getting calls about her star guard, JuJu Watkins. This season, the stakes are higher in a post-Caitlin Clark world.

Gottlieb revealed to The Athletic’s Richard Deitsch that it took 25 calls with a major network to set up the showcase game expected to challenge Clark’s college basketball viewership records this season.

Watkins is the perfect centerpiece for such a broadcast. The Los Angeles-born hooper stayed home to revitalize a Trojans program that had been dormant since the legendary days of Cheryl Miller. In her freshman season, Watkins led USC to its first Elite Eight appearance since 1994.

She’s already drawing comparisons to Clark’s game and chasing her on-court records, too. Put Watkins across from college hoops’ other biggest stars, and Gottlieb predicts that viewership records will “eventually” fall.

USC Trojans womens basketball guard JuJu Watkins (left) and Former Iowa women’s basketball player Caitlin Clark (right).

Heading into Saturday’s matchup with Hannah Hidalgo and No. 6 Notre Dame, Watkins is averaging 21.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 3.0 blocks and 3.8 steals per game.

The top-10 showdown against Notre Dame, airing nationally on NBC, is expected to draw big numbers. It will be combined with the premiere of Watkins’ documentary “On The Rise: JuJu Watkins,” executive produced by LeBron James, on Peacock an hour before tipoff.

The game against the Fighting Irish may only be a precursor to a more seismic matchup on the horizon. On Dec. 21, USC will travel across the country to face UConn and Paige Bueckers in a rematch of last season’s Elite Eight.

Fox settled on a Sunday evening time slot on national TV for the Trojans and the Huskies. They will tip off after an NFL game between the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers, expected to have 18 million viewers, Gottlieb told Deitsch.

The massive NFL audience will have a chance to stay and watch Bueckers, the consensus No. 1 prospect for the 2025 WNBA Draft, take on hometown hero Watkins, hoping to get revenge for last season’s NCAA Tournament defeat to the Huskies.

“I think we will break these viewership records eventually,” Gottlieb said. “When people see JuJu and other players at (this) level, more fans will grow. People change their lens about what it can be, and they invest.”

Clark and Iowa accounted for four of the top five regular-season games last season. The most watched broadcast was also on Fox, as 3.39 million tuned in to see Clark break Pete Maravich’s all-time NCAA scoring record against Ohio State in March.

Whether or not it breaks that record, Bueckers vs. Watkins “should be the most-watched regular-season women’s basketball game this year,” said Deitsch.

For a chance to threaten Clark’s records, 25 calls is a small price to pay.

Caitlin Clark made NCAA and WNBA history in 2024, but her accomplishments this year extended beyond the court as well.

Despite her five-figure base salary with the Indiana Fever, Clark ranked as one of the highest-paid female athletes of 2024 due to her marketing power off the court.

Her $11.1 million endorsement income was boosted by deals with brands like Wilson and Panini to create desirable collectible items featuring the Iowa Hawkeyes legend.

Professional Sports Authenticator’s (PSA) year-end list of the most popular sports trading cards revealed that Clark’s collectibles put her in historic territory alongside the biggest names in men’s and women’s basketball.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) signs autographs.

She became the first woman in history to crack the top 10 of all basketball players with the most cards “graded” by PSA in a year, an evaluation process that assigns a grade to trading cards to confirm their value.

The 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year finished No. 6 among all male and female basketball players on PSA’s list, with more than 77,000 trading cards graded.

The next most-popular female basketball trading cards were those of UConn guard Paige Bueckers, WNBA rival Angel Reese and USC’s JuJu Watkins

Though they are stars in their own right, Clark’s trading card popularity dwarfed her female counterparts. She had 14 times more cards graded than Bueckers (5,400) and 16 times more than Reese (4,700).

In the overall rankings, Clark only trailed behind five NBA icons in total cards graded this year: Victor Wembanyama, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Anthony Edwards.

Clark’s collectibles proved historic this year in individual sales as well. On Dec. 7, her 2024 Panini Select WNBA Gold Vinyl 1/1 Signature card became the most expensive WNBA card in history, selling for $234,850 on Goldin.

It was the second highest sale of a women’s sports trading card ever, behind a Serena Williams collectible that sold for $266,400 in 2022.

Caitlin Clark is changing the game in ways that go far beyond the court. As the Iowa Hawkeyes prepare to retire her iconic No. 22 jersey on February 2, 2025, ticket prices for the event have surged to unprecedented levels. In stark contrast, Paige Bueckers, whose return to UConn was meant to rejuvenate the program, finds herself struggling to generate the same buzz. The price disparity between Clark’s jersey retirement game and UConn’s matchup later that month tells a compelling story about the shifting landscape of women’s basketball.

In a recent episode of the HotMic with Hutton & Withrow podcast, Jonathan Hutton highlighted the fever pitch surrounding Iowa basketball. “You can get in for $25 on up, but come February 2, Caitlin Clark’s jersey retirement, the starting price is $446,” Hutton said.

This game, which will see the No. 22 Iowa Hawkeyes face No. 7 USC, is already shaping up to be one of the most anticipated of the season. The announcement of Clark’s jersey retirement has pushed ticket prices to new heights, with some reselling for as much as $2,243.

The buzz around Clark’s jersey retirement is a direct reflection of her unprecedented influence on women’s basketball. Chad Withrow remarked, “All 15,000 season tickets have sold out for the second consecutive season. Sold out, that means you got to increase that price.” The fervor for Clark is undeniable, and it’s no surprise given her record-breaking career at Iowa. She holds the all-time Division I scoring record with 3,951 career points, has the highest career points per game average in women’s Division I history at 28.4, and holds the record for most career 3-pointers (548). Her achievements have made her a household name, and her legacy is being cemented with each passing day.

The price difference between Iowa’s February game and UConn’s upcoming match in January is stark. Withrow pointed out that there’s a $403 difference in the lowest ticket prices between the two events. While UConn’s matchup against Iowa on January 22, 2025, has tickets starting at $43, Iowa’s game against USC on February 2 sees prices beginning at $446. This surge in ticket prices for Clark’s jersey retirement is symbolic of her growing influence and the huge demand for a chance to witness history.

But what does this ticket price surge say about Bueckers’ legacy?

Clark’s legacy Surpasses Bueckers’ stardom

Bueckers, who was expected to lead UConn back to the top after a series of injuries in the 2022-23 season, and redshirting later on is currently the No. 1 pick for the WNBA draft. Yet, despite her immense talent and star power, the buzz surrounding her return to UConn has not had the same impact as Clark’s presence at Iowa.

While Bueckers continues to be a major figure in women’s basketball, Clark’s combination of on-court dominance and off-court persona has set her apart in ways that few could have predicted

Clark’s influence transcends the NCAA. After being selected No. 1 overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft, she went on to have a spectacular rookie season with the Indiana Fever, where she averaged 19.2 points, 8.4 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game.

Her performance set a new WNBA record for single-season assists (337) and rookie scoring (769 points). Recently, she was named TIME’s Athlete of the Year, a testament to her impact not just in basketball but in the wider sports world. Meanwhile, Iowa, despite being without Clark for the moment, continues to build a strong team that remains a contender for the NCAA Tournament.

As Bueckers looks to prove herself in the WNBA, Clark’s jersey retirement game will be a defining moment for Iowa. The $403 ticket price gap between Iowa and UConn games reflects a much larger narrative: Caitlin Clark is shaping the future of women’s basketball in ways that even the most accomplished players, like Bueckers, are still striving to match.

The Caitlin Clark story is finally back where it belongs – basketball. After veering off to TIME magazine honors and her impact on the game and the WNBA as a whole, and inviting numerous controversial opinions in the process, the Indiana Fever has made a determined effort to concentrate on the sport that made her famous. And it looks like CC is getting serious with her physicality.

If you know Caitlin Clark, you know her logo threes. But more attention on her means more physical plays – remember the number of fouls that were thrown her way in 2024. Well, in a video posted by the Indiana Fever on their socials, No. 22 can be seen practicing different aspects of her game. Commenting on that, Rachel DeMita says in her latest YouTube video, “I noticed here that coaches here are giving her – not pushing her – but giving her some physicality.”

“That is something that a lot of people have also been talking about online with Caitlin Clark. It seems like she has already gotten a little bit bulkier since the end of the season.” It’s not the first time that the Fever guard would be making use of the weight room, as she had said something similar after the Olympic break. One month away from the court had allowed Clark time to hit the weight room and bulk up a little.

Nevertheless, DeMita discusses other possible reasons for her looking a bit more bulky, and one may be that she has not stopped playing since her senior year of college, aka Nov. 2023. “Now I don’t know if that’s because she has been straight in the weight room getting her reps in or it’s the fact that she played an entire NBA season with college and her first WNBA season and she pretty much played like 40 minutes a game.”

“So I don’t know if that was just her losing weight because she was playing so much or if she’s actually bulking up but she does look really strong,” DeMita says. Per Sports Illustrated, Clark seems to be working on her handles, off-balance finishing, midrange shots, screen navigation, and of course her three-pointers.

With 12 teams and 12 players, 144 players in the league – or rather 132 confirmed active players and 131 not counting CC – every team will have to be on a lookout for her, DeMita points out.

“I think it’s going to be very hard to guard her if she masters her touch at the basket. Her floater game, her mid-range game, and also the long threes that everyone knows and loves,” the analyst concludes. A change in her physicality is something that has been a long time coming and was something Clark even worked on in Iowa.

Caitlin Clark put on 8 pounds in senior year at Iowa

Coming into her senior year with the Hawkeyes was different because suddenly every eye was on Caitlin Clark. Opposite team players would target her more and the Des Moines native knew how other players being physical with her would hinder her. And the refs would not always call it, so change was required.

In a 2023 interview with Business Insider, Iowa’s associate strength and conditioning coach Lindsay Alexander, “Obviously she’s a one-of-a-kind basketball player, but the thing is, she’s not a one-of-a-kind person in the weight room. She has this very high skill set in basketball, but her physical development could really be improved.”

Well, with this change in progress, looks like 2025 will be decidedly different for the Fever guard and the entire Indiana team. Caitlin Clark is certainly the main attraction and she’s just getting an upgrade in the offseason!

Caitlin Clark’s women’s basketball meteoric rise has been historic. Clark has broken barriers from her dazzling college career and becoming the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year and wowed fans. This season, sales of her jersey surged by 500% to further speed her maturation into a superstar. Yet, despite her $28 million deal with Nike, one glaring absence looms large: her promised signature shoe.

During a Nike Q2 earnings call, CEO Elliot Hill hinted that Caitlin Clark’s signature shoe might not debut until 2026. Fans, understandably, were outraged. Twitter erupted after one user, @nosyone4, shared a snippet from the call, sparking heated debates online. Many found it incomprehensible that it would take three years for Nike to release a sneaker for one of the sport’s hottest names. @kenswift summed up the frustration, on X, “It’s crazy that they are waiting until 2026 to release Caitlin’s shoe. The fact it takes 3 years to put it out makes zero sense to me.”

This delay is even more baffling when compared to Paige Bueckers, a college basketball star who released her custom Nike GT Hustle 3 sneaker in 7 December 2024. With personal touches and high-tech innovation, Bueckers’ design has left fans wondering if Nike’s priorities are in order.

Nike at a Crossroads with Caitlin Clark: Fans React

Others didn’t hold back, with @LMadridista__ pointing out, “Caitlin Clark arrives in the WNBA in 2024 and the shoes will be released in 2026. While Paige is in college, she already has her personalized shoes. It is clear who is the priority and who is not.”

Fans believe Nike is underestimating Caitlin Clark’s value. She has a fiercely loyal bunch of supporters, regardless of the generation or demographic. One user, @scottde07820838, called Clark a “cash cow,” adding, “Caitlin is worth bars of gold to Nike.”

But others see the delay as a mistake that could hurt Nike dearly. “If they wait that long, they’re fools,” tweeted @5tephenRN, emphasizing how risky it is for Nike to delay the release of Clark’s shoe. One fan also is worried about the unpredictability of sports, writing, “What if she – god forbid – gets injured?”

Critics are also questioning Nike’s overall strategy. @FLimaxxx didn’t mince words: “Should fast track CC’s sneaker. They cite that they need to rely on sports popularity, but icing out the hottest new athlete’s kicks…disrespectful.” The brand’s market cap, which has fallen 32% this year, could be further impacted by alienating Clark’s fanbase.

Adding fuel to the fire is the comparison between Clark and Bueckers. Fans have reignited the debate, pointing out how Bueckers’ shoe release has been prioritized. One comment read, “Paige is in college and already has her shoes. Caitlin’s fans? Still waiting.”

It’s not just fans; even rival brands are taking notice. Before Clark renewed her Nike deal in college, Adidas reportedly made her a lucrative offer. Some fans are now wondering if Adidas might swoop in again. “Go Adidas,” one user simply declared.

Caitlin Clark’s supporters aren’t just talking, they’re making noise. Demanding Nike respond to their delays in releasing its signature shoe. Others are demanding a Nike boycott and are publicly proclaiming they will not purchase Nike until the company makes good on its promise. Clark’s supporters take issue with this well beyond footwear. That’s honoring what she’s given to the sport as a women’s role model, and they are dead set on holding Nike accountable.

Petitions and social media campaigns are calling on the brand to focus on Clark’s signature shoe. And this grassroots movement has become more powerful than ever. Now, fans are no longer satisfied with waiting. Nike’s delay is already giving off the vibe that it’s a bigger problem for the way Nike views women’s sports and its athletes.

By waiting until 2026, Nike is choosing to alienate a passionate and influential slice of its customer base. For a brand built on championing trailblazing athletes, this is a delicate spot for Nike to be in. If dissatisfaction increases consumers, and even perhaps athletes like Clark herself, become unhappy. Rivals like Adidas, and Under Armour could take advantage by scooping it up.

Caitlin Clark has been delivering “never happened before” moments like it’s her job since her WNBA debut. And she did it again by becoming Time’s 2024 Athlete of the Year. The first-ever WNBA player to receive this honor, she now shares the stage with the likes of LeBron James and Simone Biles. While it’s undoubtedly a massive win for women’s basketball, not everyone was thrilled about the spotlight being on just one player.

Washington Mystics co-owner Sheila Johnson had some thoughts, but let’s just say Indiana Fever’s GM Amber Cox isn’t backing down in defending her star. Johnson voiced her disapproval in a CNN interview, stating that the recognition should have been more inclusive. “When you just keep singling out one player, it creates hard feelings,” she remarked.

She highlighted the draft class of 2024, including standout players like Angel Reese. “It’s not just Caitlin Clark; we have so much talent out there,” the Mystics owner argued. Meanwhile, when asked about the same, she straight up opined, “I think Caitlin Clark deserves that award.”

The Fever GM emphasized the generational aspect of sports, noting how the WNBA, still in its early years, is steadily building its foundation. And has been a game-changer. Cox recounted her days in Phoenix and Connecticut, reminiscing about the league’s milestones over the years. But, according to her, nothing compares to the Caitlin Clark effect.

“She is a huge multiplier effect,” Cox said in a podcast “In Case You Missed It with Khristina Williams,” explaining how Clark’s stardom has drawn thousands of new fans to the WNBA. And she had the perfect example to back it up. It was Dallas Wings versus Indiana Fever. A couple from Dallas, who had never attended a WNBA game, ended up in Cox’s sponsor seats

 They came just to see Caitlin play. By the third quarter, the man leaned over to Cox and asked, “Where has this been all my life?” He then marched off to buy season tickets for the Wings. That’s the kind of impact Clark has, turning casual spectators into die-hard fans in a matter of minutes.

While Cox acknowledged the contributions of other stars like Angel Reese and Cameron Brink, she made it clear that CC’s impact is in a league of its own. “We’ve never seen anything like Caitlin Clark. It’s truly been transcendent for our league,” she said.

Hence, she concluded, “And for that reason, I believe she deserved the award 100 percent.” She didn’t forget to mention along with her on-court heroics, this award was truly about the difference and the impact she had on women’s basketball, the WNBA, and women’s sports. But amidst all the noise, Caitlin is back doing what she does best—hooping.

Caitlin Clark bulking up for season 2

If you know Caitlin Clark, you know her logo threes and offense. But now, she’s adding a little muscle to her game. Fans have noticed that Clark looks a bit bulkier, and it’s not just from her Olympic offseason training. Former ESPN host Rachel DeMita pointed out that Clark’s physicality seems to have leveled up.

“She does look really strong,” DeMita observed, adding that Clark might be benefiting from playing almost non-stop since her senior year in college. The 2024 ROTY’s focus on her handles, off-balance finishing, and mid-range game, along with her infamous long-range bombs, is making her even more of a threat for opposition. 

Coaches aren’t going easy on her either, adding physicality to her training sessions. DeMita summed it up, saying, “If she masters her touch at the basket, her floater game, and her mid-range game, she’s going to be very hard to guard.” 

But honestly, Caitlin Clark’s dedication to her craft is undeniable. Amid all the chatter and accolades, she’s keeping her eyes on becoming the best version of herself. As Clark herself has said, her only competition is her past self and we can see her living by that.