NBA players should seize the opportunity to call for a game played by Caitlin Clark, as it will surely attract a large audience. At least, this is what analyst and critic Jason Whitlock thinks of the matter.
In one of the recent episodes of his program “Fearless,” Jason Whitlock and co-host Steve Kim talked about the issue of women calling for NBA games, but not the other way around for NBA players.
“This is the reality for former WNBA players and females: to go from playing in the WNBA to calling NBA games means you are elevating,” Kim said. “That is an absolute ascension. For any NBA player to go and say, hey you’re going to do the WNBA, they’d look at that as a descent. It’d be a demotion.”
“There will never be a WNBA player that’s offered by a network we like your work so much you’re going to the NBA They will never say “no, you know what, I’m an advocate for the WNBA, I believe in this product, I’m going to stay right here.”
“Would love to see it, [but] it’ll never happen,” Whitlock said. “You’re right. Now, I will say this: if the men were smart, I’d jump on board with calling Caitlin Clark games because those are going to have some serious audience.”
Caitlin Clark‘s influence on basketball has translated into record-breaking viewership numbers, proving her immense audience pull. Her Final Four matchup between Iowa and UConn in 2024 shattered previous records, drawing 14.2 million viewers on ESPN, making it the most-watched women’s basketball game ever.
Even regular-season matchups featuring Clark have set records, such as Iowa’s game against Ohio State, which drew 3.4 million viewers, making it the most-watched women’s college basketball game on FOX since 1999.
WNBA Teams Adjust Game Venues to Accommodate More Caitlin Clark Fans
The Caitlin Clark Effect continues to reshape the WNBA, as multiple teams have moved their 2025 games against the Indiana Fever to larger venues to accommodate the overwhelming demand from fans.
Clark, who became the WNBA Rookie of the Year in 2024, has drawn record-breaking crowds, prompting teams like the Dallas Wings, Chicago Sky, and Atlanta Dream to shift their matchups against the Fever to NBA-sized arenas.
The Fever’s road games now regularly take place in venues such as United Center, American Airlines Center, and State Farm Arena. The Fever’s popularity has transformed their road games into near-home environments, as fans across the country flock to see Clark play.
Despite some criticism that these venue upgrades primarily benefit Caitlin Clark’s brand rather than the league as a whole, the Fever’s impact on WNBA ticket sales and viewership is undeniable.
