NEW YORK (AP) — The basketball world can’t get enough of Caitlin Clark and now that the college season is over, next up is the WNBA draft. While there is no drama about whether the Iowa guard will be the top pick, there is excitement about her arrival.
With record ratings for the NCAA championship game and nearly every other game she played this season, Clark is joining the WNBA at the right time. The league has its TV deal expiring at the end of next year and that could lead to a massive new contract for the WNBA.
The WNBA just had its most-watched season in 21 years, averaging 462,000 viewers per game across ABC, ESPN and CBS. The league also had its most-watched Finals in 20 years that featured Las Vegas and New York. It was up 36% from the previous season. The league’s attendance rose 16% — it’s highest figure since 2018. Throw Clark into the mix and that number could grow exponentially.
“When you’re given an opportunity, women’s sports just kind of thrives,” Clark said. “I think that’s been the coolest thing for me on this journey. We started our season playing in front of 55,000 people in Kinnick Stadium, and now we’re ending it playing in front of probably 15 million people or more on TV. It just continues to get better and better and better. That’s never going to stop.”
Clark has inspired countless young boys and girls to want to watch and attend college basketball games. The WNBA hopes that carries on to her career in Indiana, where she is the expected No. 1 pick in the draft Monday night. There's no reason to think it won't as fans traveled across the country to see her play in college as nearly every road game Iowa played was sold out the past two seasons. Two WNBA teams have already moved their games against Indiana to bigger arenas.
“I know her shoulders are heavy because of what she has to give to women’s basketball. I just want to say we’re thankful. We’re thankful that she chose to play basketball," South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said. "We’re thankful for the way she’s handled all of it. Her next step is the WNBA — I do think she can be that person that elevates us.”
She certainly will be an attendance boost for the Fever, who were second-to-last in home attendance averaging just over 4,000 fans. The Fever play in Gainbridge Fieldhouse, which could hold 20,000 spectators. The team has not released how many tickets they've sold since they won the draft lottery to get the No. 1 pick.
If Monday night's draft is any indication of excitement, the league sold out of its approximately 1,000 tickets within 15 minutes. The cheapest available ticket on one secondary market topped $165 this week.
AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball
Clark Effect: Ratings and attendance boost could be on way for WNBA
Clark Effect: Ratings and attendance boost could be on way for WNBA
Iowa guard Caitlin Clark stands on the court during the second half of the Final Four college basketball championship game against South Carolina in the women's NCAA Tournament, Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Elly De La Cruz went 4 for 4 with a career-best four stolen bases and scored three times in the Cincinnati Reds’ 7-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday night.
Nick Martinez (1-2) won in relief, permitting one hit over five shutout innings and striking out four for the Reds, who used seven pitchers in a bullpen game.
Cincinnati snapped the Dodgers' franchise record of 22 straight games allowing four runs or fewer.
Los Angeles lost back-to-back games for the first time since April 19-20 and has dropped four of seven overall.
Shohei Ohtani went 0 for 2 with a walk and a strikeout on his first bobblehead night of the season, when fans snarled traffic and waited in long lines to snag the giveaway depicting the Japanese superstar. Only 40,000 fans got a bobblehead among the sellout crowd of 53,527 — the biggest in the majors this season and at Dodger Stadium since Sept. 20, 2019.
De La Cruz matched his career high for hits and reached base five times with three singles, a double and a walk. His four steals were the most by a player against the Dodgers since Philadelphia’s Jayson Werth had that many on May 12, 2009.
The speedy De La Cruz finally got thrown out by catcher Austin Barnes trying to swipe second base to end the seventh. The 22-year-old shortstop has 30 steals this season. Conner Capel had the Reds' other stolen base in the game.
Will Benson hit a leadoff homer against Dodgers starter Tyler Glasnow (6-2). Tyler Stephenson drove in two runs, including a two-out RBI single in the third that made it 3-0.
The Reds tacked on three more in the ninth for a 7-0 lead.
The Dodgers managed just two hits until the ninth, when Andy Pages singled while pinch-hitting for Ohtani. They loaded the bases and scored two runs on Gavin Lux's bases-loaded single.
Los Angeles went down in order in four straight innings. Three of those came against Martinez, including the sixth when he retired Mookie Betts, Ohtani and Freddie Freeman.
UP NEXT
Reds RHP Frankie Montas (2-3, 4.20 ERA) starts Friday night against Dodgers LHP James Paxton (5-0, 2.58), who has a three-game winning streak.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Cincinnati Reds third baseman Jeimer Candelario (3) catches a foul ball hit by Los Angeles Dodgers' Kikè Hernández during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles, Thursday, May 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Cincinnati Reds third baseman Jeimer Candelario (3) throws to first during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Thursday, May 16, 2024. Los Angeles Dodgers' Teoscar Hernández was safe at first. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) swings a strike during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Los Angeles, Thursday, May 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Cincinnati Reds' Tyler Stephenson reacts after a single during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Thursday, May 16, 2024. Elly De La Cruz scored. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) reacts after swinging a strike during the third inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Los Angeles, Thursday, May 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Cincinnati Reds' Elly De La Cruz adjusts his helmet after stealing second base during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Thursday, May 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Cincinnati Reds' Elly De La Cruz reacts after scoring off of a wild pitch by Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles, Thursday, May 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Cincinnati Reds' Elly De La Cruz scores off of a wild pitch by Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles, Thursday, May 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
