Before her last regular season game against No. 2 Ohio State, Iowa point guard Caitlin Clark met her lifelong idol, retired WNBA legend Maya Moore. That night, with Moore in attendance, Clark became the all-time leading scorer in men’s and women’s Division I college basketball. Today, Clark is the same idol for thousands of young girls as Moore was to Clark, and her legacy is just beginning.
As the Women’s NCAA March Madness basketball tournament is complete, women’s basketball has seen more attention than ever with Clark’s help. She has dramatically changed the stigma surrounding women’s basketball and sports in general.
Women’s basketball has been looked down on since its founding in 1892. According to the Chicago Basketball Academy, a corporation that prepares people for the business side of basketball, women used to be required to play on only half of the court, they had to wear long skirts, and dribbling was prohibited. The stereotype that women weren’t strong or fit enough to play on the full court lasted until Title IX, a law put in place to end discrimination based on sex in federally funded schools, was passed in 1971.
While women’s sports have made significant strides toward equality, the general public has been much more interested in men’s sports because of historical biases that underestimated women and their abilities in athletics. Clark has been one of the incredible women changing the negative stigma surrounding women’s sports.
During her four years at The University of Iowa, Clark has shattered countless records and become a household name. Including the Division I scoring record, Clark has also scored the most 3-pointers in Division I history, as well as the most assists and 3-pointers in NCAA tournament history, according to ESPN. It’s a given that setting these new records is impressive, but what she’s done for women’s basketball as a whole is an even larger achievement.
The “Caitlin Clark Effect” has been felt throughout the entire sport. According to Forbes, Women’s Final Four tickets were triple the price of the men’s tickets in 2023. Additionally, the NCAA said every Iowa road game during the 2024 regular season was sold out, and a new NCAA Division I women’s basketball viewership record was set at 8,784,401 viewers. Clark has also had a multi-million dollar effect on Iowa’s economy, so much so that the term “Clarkonomics” emerged.
The result of Clark’s greatness goes beyond the statistics. Women have been facing negative stereotypes in the athletic world for decades, saying they’re “unimpressive” or “boring,” but that stigma has been completely reversed as a result of Clark’s abilities. Women’s sports critics have had no choice but to acknowledge Clark’s skills, and many are beginning to realize that women’s basketball is an entertaining game with highly talented players. Not only does it silence the doubters, but young girls are also prouder to play basketball, looking up to Clark as a role model.
Throughout all of the fame and media attention Clark has received, she maintains good character and betters her community. After signing with big brands such as Nike, Gatorade and State Farm, she made it her mission to improve youth education, nutrition and sports careers by starting the Caitlin Clark Foundation. According to the foundation, it along with the help of her brand deals has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for youth communities.
The “Caitlin Clark Effect” has solidified Clark as one of the most influential figures in sports during her time at Iowa, and after declaring for the WNBA draft, her legacy can only grow. Women’s basketball will continue to gain popularity and respect amongst the public which will only benefit the sport, and women athletes will finally get the recognition they deserve for their impressive accomplishments and abilities.
