As women’s basketball soared in popularity this past season, Caitlin Clark was at the center of the conversation. The NCAA’s all-time leading scorer led Iowa to a national championship appearance before becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA Draft to the Indiana Fever.
However, the Hawkeyes lost in the title game to undefeated South Carolina. But Clark still generated a buzz after her college career ended and, despite falling short in Cleveland, even appeared on Saturday Night Live with jokes for Michael Che ahead of the draft.
To LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson – whose Tigers lost to Clark in the Elite Eight – such celebrations aren’t bad things. Considering Clark’s status as the face of college basketball, she argued it will have long-term ramifications for the women’s game.
“I think it’s good for the game,” Johnson said during an appearance on The Baller Alert Show. “Caitlin Clark, say what you want, but she’s a star. … She can shoot that thing, and she’s got the green light.
“And I think America kind of has gravitated to her, and it’s only just pulling the women up more and more and more. So I love it.”
Clark and Iowa set multiple records this past season. The Hawkeyes’ last three NCAA Tournament games, starting with the Elite Eight against LSU, all set viewership records – capped by 18.7 million people tuning in for the title game against South Carolina.
As she heads to the WNBA, Clark’s popularity is still growing. Multiple teams announced plans to move games against the Fever due to high ticket demand and prices are soaring. Most of Indiana’s games will also end up on national TV, as well.
Flau’jae Johnson got a unique perspective on Clark’s rise. The two battled it out twice in the last two years as LSU got the better of Iowa in the 2023 national title game and the Hawkeyes got their revenge in the Elite Eight this past season. Johnson watched, like many, as Clark left her mark on the college game.
And in the process, Johnson said, she opened the door for others.
“Caitlin, she’s just putting on,” Johnson said. “It’s just beautiful to see for me because I’m, like, right in the middle of it. I got to share the court with her two times, and she’s just a good player.
“But I love it. I feel like it’s gonna give more opportunities for women like me coming up in the next era of college athletes.”
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