Caitlin Clark’s WNBA arrival has been directly responsible for a staggering increase in revenue from merchandise, ticket sales, and television. The 24-year-old is not only becoming a fan favorite, but players also love her personality, playing style, and what she brings to the league and beyond as well.
Players in the WNBA are beginning to buy into the unprecedented level of intrigue surrounding Clark’s image, including Lexie Brown, who had nothing but positive things to say.
“Has it changed how people view the WNBA? Absolutely,” Brown said to Fox News. “I think unfortunately, our value, the respect that we got has been directly attached to how much money we make and it’s not rocket science to see that since her arrival, and the rest of that 2024 class, the WNBA has skyrocketed. I’m not gonna act like that’s not a coincidence”.
Players talking about Clark is nothing new, Brown, as one of the veterans in the league and entering her ninth season, has surely seen many things. However, when it comes to Clark, there’s a unique weight to these words.
“I think that people are taking the league more seriously, I think people are taking us more seriously as professional athletes. And I think if you consider that a culture shift, I would say, absolutely,” Brown added.
Clark is at the forefront of this new WNBA shift. The Indiana Fever guard is one of the reasons behind the WNBA signing a new CBA agreement that has seen players secure millions in salary through the updated deal.
Lexie Brown says Caitlin Clark’s fans were taken aback by the WNBA’s physicality
Caitlin Clark’s arrival in Indiana and dazzling skill set made her the talk of the basketball world. And quietly, somewhere in the shadows of all that hype, there were major bumps and bruises she had to handle like everyone else coming into the league.
The physicality of defenses had Clark in trouble, particularly in her rookie season. Brown, who played against Clark on multiple occasions, addressed how Clark’s fans took issue with the league’s physical style.
“She (Clark) was a rookie that came in that’s just super talented and was number one on everyone’s scouting reports, so you’re gonna get the best. The better you’re gonna get the most physical one. And I think it was just something that she had never seen before. And as the year went on, she adjusted and got used to it and, you know, became the first team all WNBA in the process. So I think, you know, it was hard at first for her to deal with that learning curve, growing pains, and, you know, I think her fans kind of were like a little taken aback by the physicality of the WNBA, but I think, like I said before, they allowed her to grow and learn through that, and she came out on top again.”
The learning curve was steep for Clark, but she broke multiple records on her way to winning Rookie of the Year. In the following year, the transition remained demanding, as she missed a significant portion of the season due to injury. Now entering her third year with Indiana, Clark understands the league much better. It is more layered, more physical, and more nuanced, but she will be looking to come out on top.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
