Even with Caitlin Clark’s collegiate career over, Magic Johnson is not one bit worried about the future of women’s college basketball–and for good reason.
Clark had been the biggest star in college hoops for the last couple of years, and with her taking her basketball journey to the next level in the WNBA, there have been concerns about women’s basketball taking a hit as a result.
Johnson, however. doesn’t see that from happening.
Magic Johnson Believes Women’s College Basketball Is in Good Hands Post-Caitlin Clark
Johnson was full of praises for Clark even after the Iowa Hawkeyes’ National Championship defeat, calling the sharpshooter the “catalyst for growing women’s basketball.”
Some are already saying that Clark’s departure would lessen the interest in the competition. After all, there’s no denying that Clark has been the league’s biggest draw–with Iowa’s game often generating massive viewership.
For Johnson, though, there remains a lot of talent in the women’s scene who are more than capable of further elevating the game. The NBA legend mentioned the likes of JuJu Watkins, Hannah Hidalgo and Paige Bueckers–who decided to stay in UConn despite being draft eligible–as among the many incredible individuals who stood out to him this past season.
“The women’s college game is in great hands moving forward with Juju Watkins, Paige Bueckers, Hannah Hidalgo, and the countless others who showed their talent all season long!” Johnson wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Sure enough, Johnson is right with his take. For one, Watkins showed everyone that she could be the next face of women’s college basketball after powering the USC Trojans to a no. 1 seed and the Elite Eight. The same goes for Hannah Hidalgo, who starred for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and established herself as a potent offensive weapon.
And who could forget about Bueckers? The UConn Huskies star has been often compared to Clark, and she’s expected to continue to dominate as she returns to Connecticut for another year.
Will Women’s College Basketball Take a Hit After Caitlin Clark’s Exit?
There’s definitely merit to the concerns that there will be lesser interest in women’s college basketball in the post-Caitlin Clark era. The NCAA’s all-time leading scorer will still generate attention, and as she heads to the WNBA, the focus will be on the pro league.
So all the Clark fans and those who watched because of her could end up shifting their priorities to the WNBA as well.
But as Magic Johnson said, the remaining talents in the league are equally impressive. And with Clark and many others showing that the women’s game is just as good as the men’s game–or maybe sometimes even better–the interest shouldn’t really fade.
Hopes are high that women’s basketball will only keep growing from here on out. Sure enough, Johnson and the rest of the hoops world will keep their eyes peeled on the game and watch out for who’s next.
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