Caitlin Clark is currently sitting on the sidelines and soaking in all the action of the Indiana Fever. In a recent gesture, Clark aired her emotions as Lexie Hull put up a clutch show. But her playing on the hardwood is something that fans and critics alike have missed this season. Last season, the Fever rookie had an electric introduction to the WNBA. And surely enough, having covered most of her games last year, ESPN broadcaster Ryan Ruocco is sensing the void this year.
The 23-year-old made the league spring to life. With her impeccable display of hooping skills, the Fever star drew a massive amount of viewership and sponsors. As a result, the league started having an elevated cash flow right away. And while all of that has been missing this year, Ruocco reminisced about the expansive nature of how it felt to cover Clark’s games.
Ryan Ruocco Describes How Intense Caitlin Clark’s Games Were
After the Indiana Fever had their back against the wall following a Game 1 defeat, Clark took it upon herself to hype up the team. Now then, this was kind of a sad advertisement for the fans, who expected her to take ownership and guide the Fever out of harm’s way. In a recent appearance on the ‘Women’s Sports Weekly’ podcast, Ruocco described that the magnitude of covering Clark’s game feels like attending a high-profile concert.
“I have never experienced something like what it’s like covering a Caitlin Clark game,” Ruocco said. “It’s like going to a concert and the anticipation when she pulls up from 30 feet, the reaction of the crowd, the attention from home, the emotional investment from fans, and a broad stroke of fans, is unlikely anything I’ve experienced in the sports that I cover,” said Ruocco.
Well, these are some extremely generous words said by Ruocco. And the broadcaster is not wrong. Clark had set some of the most unreal viewership numbers last year. Back in her NCAA days, her championship game against South Carolina garnered a whopping 18.9 million views. And when it came to the WNBA draft, another milestone was created with the numbers reading 2.4 million views. Likewise, trying to capitalize on her popularity, the LPGA, too, might get revived using Clark’s star power. Meanwhile, as the WNBA phenom will not be returning until the next season, a former NBA star delivered a reality check to the WNBA.
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Olden Polynice Feels The WNBA Must Protect Caitlin Clark More
There is no debate that Clark is not only an asset for the Indiana Fever. But she is one of the biggest stars for the WNBA, too. Soon after the 23-year-old joined the league, the WNBA boomed like never before. More and more fans grew interested in watching the games, and teams, too, started gaining higher valuations than before. However, the league must keep in mind that in the absence of Clark, things might not take too long to go downhill. Thus, former NBA star Olden Polynice had an interesting take on the matter.
Looking at how opponents had fouled Clark earlier, Polynice argued that the league did very little to protect her. He also noted that Clark had to go up against two of the best defensive teams in the WNBA. That too in her first two games. “You don’t even take care of your own. You had the golden egg, and you still do, but yet you clown. Caitlin Clark is your golden egg,” Polynice said.
Surely, Clark is a huge factor for the WNBA. As she strives towards her recovery, fans will expect a fully fit Caitlin Clark to take the hardwood next year.