As a little over a week ago during the NCAA Women’s Final Four, The basketball planet has once again set its eyes on Caitlin Clark, the sensational 22-year-old, 1.83 meter player from the University of Iowa.. To no one’s surprise, it has been chosen first in the WNBA draft by the Indiana Fever. In his last seasons in the NCAA he has reached the status of icon: he surpassed the record of the legendary Pete Maravich to be the person who has scored the most points in his university career, he has averaged 28.4 on average in those four years with a maximum of 31.6 in this last season, he has made 37.7% of his three-pointers, many of them from unimaginable distances… They only missed the title after losing the final against South Carolina (87-75).
Now It is expected to change the landscape of the WNBA in many ways: sporting, economic, media… Although she is the visible head of the coming revolution, she is not alone in that crusade. His nemesis Angel Reese (LSU), Cameron Brink (Stanford), Rickea Jackson (Tennessee) y Kamilla Cardoso (South Carolina)MVP of the Final Four, are some of the talented stars who will land alongside her in the professional women’s competition. Paige Bueckers (UConn)another prodigious young woman, will wait one more year. The scenario is ideal for all of them to turn women’s basketball or even sport in general upside down..
Clark has charisma and withstands pressure. She is tougher and more obsessive than anyone
Amaya Valdemoro, former player and commentator for Movistar+
Clark’s emergence into the WNBA may remind Victor Wembanyama last year in the NBA. That of this entire litter could be compared to the arrival of Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and, years later, that of Michael Jordan. The Professional League languished until those megastars appeared. Now, this group of girls can put in another dimension a competition that is not depressed but rather is getting better every year. “It’s a generation that is going to rock it,” predicts Amaya Valdemoro, winner of three rings with the Houston Comets between 1998 and 2000. “And they make me very envious,” she admits..
The now Movistar+ commentator has followed Clark’s career almost since its beginnings at the University of Iowa. It is shown impressed “by his shooting range, but also by his vision of the game and how he passes, especially in the race.”. The chipped pass on the run is tremendous. He seems like a machine to me and he makes his teammates better because of his play and his work ethic.” He also highlights “The charisma she has and how she withstands pressure. She is tougher and more obsessive than anyone”.
It’s time for change. The boom in women’s sports is already a reality. It has been shown that it interests and sells
Anna Montaana, former player and coach of Hozono Global Jairis
He also talks about it Betty Cebrin, former New York Liberty player and now working for FIBA Europe. “She is a generation that attracts by her gamebut also because of their closeness on social networks and how they deal with them and all the noise around. It doesn’t affect them at allbut they benefit from it,” he analyzes. To Anna Montaana, “it is time for change. The boom in women’s sports is already a reality. It has been shown that it is interesting and sells”says the former George Washington University and Minnesota Lynx player and current coach of the Hozono Global Jairis of the Endesa Women’s League and recently appointed coach of Great Britain.
Power of attraction: record audiences
The power of attraction of Clark and his villa is undeniable. The Final Four games, with Iowa as a participant, broke audience records in the United States. The final against South Carolina was watched by 18.3 million viewers on average and there were peaks of 24 million. It was the most watched basketball game, including men’s NCAA and NBA, in five years and surpassed the largest record in the history of the Women’s NCAA. In recent times, only the NFL and the Olympic Games had had numbers like that in the country. 19,000 spectators attended the training sessions prior to the final.
“There was talk about them all over the world. And men’s basketball is overturned,” says Amaya. LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Paul Pierce, Shaquille O’Neal, Carmelo Anthony, Allen Iverson… Great NBA stars present and past had words for the event of the year in American basketball. “When I was playing there, the boys supported the girls a lot, but now it’s exaggerated. And “The one who made everything change was Kobe, because he had daughters.”, considers. “It’s fantastic that the players idolize the players and expose them. It’s a boost. The UCAM kids come to watch our games and that creates fandom and a bond,” says Montaana.
They will have to adapt salaries to what they generate, which, as we are seeing, is much
Betty Cebrin, former player and now working at FIBA Europe
Athletically, it remains to be seen what role Clark and her generation colleagues can play. The talent is beyond any doubt, but “they will have to adapt to the professional world,” says Cebrinwhich warns that “it is an important leap. They have been doing the same thing for four years, almost always with the same systems, the same partners… Now they will even have new arbitration criteria.” Called up to the United States pre-selection, the Iowan could enjoy her first professional experience at this summer’s Games in Paris.. And, almost certainly, he will win the gold medal.
From earning 3.1 million dollars to a contract of 80,000
Where the change will be greatest is economically. If we follow the hackneyed phrase “let each person earn according to what they generate”, these girls are going to revolutionize the WNBA because they are a gem. The Fever have already been anticipating their ticket campaign for next season thinking about Clark, the Las Vegas Aces will move to a larger venue when they play Indiana and almost all the teams have already done their own campaign waiting for the star’s visit.
There are not going to be contracts like those of the boys, but I know that the salary increase can go much faster with these players because of everything they move
Amaya Valdemoro, former player and commentator for Movistar+
The player from Des Moines (Iowa), as one of the first four in the draft, earn with her first contract in the WNBA around 80,000 dollars. Very far from his NIL (acronym for name, image and likeness) in the NCAA, where he reached the 3.1 million dollars thanks to its advertising agreements with firms such as Nike, Gatorade, Bose… And in another universe compared to the 12 million that Wembanyama has receivedlast number 1 in the NBA draft, for his first season in the League.
“There are not going to be contracts like those of the boys, but I know that the salary increase can go much faster with these players because of everything they move.”. I don’t know how many years it will take for salaries to be adjusted, but it will happen. I imagine that when a new collective agreement is signed,” predicts Valdemoro. “They will have to adapt salaries to what they generate, which, as we are seeing, is a lot”believes Cebrin. “It will be time to professionalize everything even more, with more money, more sponsors, television rights…”says Montaana.
They will have to adapt to the professional world and it is an important leap. They have been doing the same thing for four years, almost always with the same systems, the same colleagues…
Betty Cebrin, former player and now working at FIBA Europe
Television can be decisive in the evolution of the WNBA. The contract with ESPN goes hand in hand with the one signed by the NBA and expires in 2025. Now, commissioner Cathy Englebert believes it is time to fly alone and negotiate on their side. It has a strong position: its League broke its audience and hall attendance records in 2023. The competition is in good health, but now a historic generation of stars has arrived to reinforce it and put it at another level.
The recognizable stars that already exist
The young women are going to add to all the talent that already exists, to recognizable stars such as Breanna Stewart, A’ja Wilson, veteran Diana Taurasi or Sabrina Ionescu, the base sponsored by Kobe who participated in a three-point contest with Stephen Curry at the All Star and which even has its own line of footwear with Nike. Throughout this season, no less than 53 NBA players have worn the shoes that bear her name.
The very good ones from the WNBA no longer come to Europe and surely even fewer will come in the future
Anna Montaana, former player and coach of Hozono Global Jairis
What happens in the WNBA will have repercussions in Europe and not always in a positive way. There is already talk of an expansion beyond the current 12 franchises. Many cities want to enjoy the Clark phenomenon and its magnificent promotion. That would mean expanding the calendar, which would probably coincide with international national team competitions and the European Leagues. The big stars no longer cross the Atlantic like they did in the past. Only players with less than three years of experience have permission not to be on the first day of training camp.
“The very good ones from the WNBA no longer come to Europe and surely even fewer will come in the future. We will have to adapt and look for a step below. Let’s hope it happens like with the Euroleague, which does not have any of the 50, 100? “best players in the world, but it is a brutal competition”Montaana values from her perspective as a coach. She is just a part of great change that women’s basketball can experience with Caitlin Clark and a generation that aims to be revolutionary on the court and, above all, off it.
2024-04-16 00:45:05
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