Caitlin Clark Named AP Female Athlete of the Year for Impact on Women’s Basketball
Caitlin Clark has significantly raised the profile of women’s basketball, making history with her achievements both in college and the WNBA. Recently named the AP Female Athlete of the Year, Clark’s impact on the sport has been immense. After leading the University of Iowa to the national championship game, she was selected first overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever. Clark also earned Rookie of the Year honors in her debut season. Her popularity skyrocketed, filling arenas and attracting millions of viewers across various platforms.
Clark’s success on the court is matched by her ability to bring attention to women’s sports. As one of only four women’s basketball players to ever win the AP Female Athlete of the Year (after Sheryl Swoopes, Rebecca Lobo, and Candace Parker), Clark’s achievements have broken barriers. In college, she set the NCAA Division I career scoring record for both men and women, finishing with 3,951 points. Despite Iowa’s loss to South Carolina in the national championship game, even the opposing coach, Dawn Staley, praised Clark for elevating the sport.
Her popularity has been a game-changer for women’s basketball, as evidenced by record-breaking viewership. Clark helped the NCAA women’s championship game outdraw the men’s event for the first time in history, with 18.9 million viewers. The WNBA also saw a 300% increase in TV viewership, and the 2024 WNBA Draft reached an all-time high in viewership.
Throughout her rise to fame, Clark has maintained grace under pressure, handling both praise and online toxicity with poise. As she reflects on her journey, Clark emphasizes the importance of community in her success. She is deeply grateful for the support of her teammates, fans, and fellow athletes, acknowledging that the attention she’s received is a collective achievement for all women in sports.
With her jersey being retired at Iowa and her presence in the pros continuing to inspire, Caitlin Clark has solidified herself as one of the most influential athletes of her generation, reshaping the landscape of women’s basketball and sports at large
