Caitlin Clark, a standout in women’s basketball, has been named the AP Female Athlete of the Year. Her influence extends beyond the court, significantly boosting the visibility of women’s sports. Clark’s college career at Iowa was marked by breaking the NCAA Division I scoring record with 3,951 points and leading her team to consecutive national championship games. Her transition to the WNBA was equally impressive, where she was the top draft pick and earned Rookie of the Year honors. Her presence has led to a 300% increase in WNBA viewership, with record numbers on networks like ABC, CBS, ION, ESPN, and ESPN2. The 2024 WNBA draft, featuring Clark, was the most watched in league history, attracting 2.4 million viewers. Clark’s impact was also evident in the NCAA women’s championship game, which outdrew the men’s game for the first time, with 18.9 million viewers. Despite the attention and scrutiny, Clark has managed to maintain a positive public image, focusing on her interactions with fans and her contributions to the sport’s growth.
Source: https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/43140630/fever-caitlin-clark-named-ap-female-athlete-year
