Stephen A. Smith Offers 3 Undeniable Realities That Prove Caitlin Clark Is Behind WNBA’s Uprising Popularity
Stephen A. Smith and Caitlin Clark (Image Source: GettyImages)
Ever since arriving in the WNBA, Caitlin Clark has gained massive popularity, which acted against her. Despite increasing the league’s viewership, the Indiana guard has been the center of unnecessary altercations, criticism, and bias. While her teammates couldn’t come to her defense, veteran analyst Stephen A. Smith extended his support.
On a recent episode of the “Stephen A. Smith Show”, the host stated three stats to answer the ones who claim that Clark is being hyped for no reason. Smith started off by saying, “WNBA draft 2024 drew 2.46 million viewers to ESPN on Monday night, making it the most watched draft in WNBA history.”
The 56-year-old ESPN analyst boldly continued, “ABC announced it had its most-viewed opening weekend doubleheader ever with two games combined in an average of 1.5 million viewers. That marks a 143% increase from a WNBA doubleheader from ABC a year ago.”
Calling the Fever “the second worst team” in the WNBA, Smith further added, “Did you know that the Fever has been involved in three out of the four TV games that have garnered 1.3 million average viewers this season?”
The topic came up after Clark was pushed to the floor by opponent Chennedy Carter in a game between the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky, which caught the eyes of many, even beyond the basketball court.
Tennis icon sends clear message about Caitlin Clark
There have been multiple instances when Caitlin Clark got physically outplayed by the big ladies in the league. However, her recent clash with the Sky shooting guard stunned the hoop enthusiasts, one of them being tennis legend Martina Navratilova.
Navratilova said, “The players in the WNBA need to realize that Caitlin Clark is helping all of them, now and in the long run. Caitlyn is the tide that will raise all boats.” She further mentioned that she didn’t consider the Indiana rookie to be a “saint” but called out the “dirty play” by Carter.
The 67-year-old genius believes the best way to get back at others is by performing well on the hardwood. However, Clark and her teammates need a lot of such motivation as they have a 2-9 record and will be facing the Washington Mystics on Saturday, who have not secured a single win in the 8 games they have played till now.
How much money does Hailey Van Lith make in NIL? LSU point guard’s off field endorsements explored
Hailey Van Lith has emerged as one of the premier guards in women’s college basketball. The talented player transferred to LSU after starring at Louisville. Van Lith’s skills have also made her highly marketable. She is signed by Adidas on a lucrative sponsorship deal, a major brand in the sport looking to capitalize on her popularity.
Raking in the cash, Van Lith’s endorsement earnings are substantial. Her lucrative NIL deals with Adidas and other brands have made her one of the top earners in college basketball.
Hailey Van Lith has signed some lucrative NIL deals with several major brands.
Hailey Van Lith has an On3 NIL Valuation of $565,000, ranking sixth in women’s college basketball. Through her lucrative Adidas deal and other endorsements, she earns a substantial income playing for LSU.
Van Lith’s NIL portfolio is stacked. In 2021, she was signed by Dick’s Sporting Goods, one of the largest sporting goods retailers, as an NIL trailblazer when the opportunities were just emerging.
Although now commonplace, NIL deals with luxury brands were rare when Van Lith partnered with streetwear label Billionaire Girls Club. For International Women’s Day 2021, she was featured in a collaboration between the brand and Overtime that included hoodies and crop tees.
Van Lith also has NIL deals with Tigers NIL Store, Invesco QQQ, 94 Feet of Game, Shaquille O’Neal Foundation and Sierato.
