Beyond the statistics and record books, Iowa women’s basketball’s Caitlin Clark is doing more than her performance on the basketball court.
In the world of sports media, men have primarily been the focus since such coverage began. A handful of female athletes have altered these patterns, women like Serena Williams, Simone Biles, Alex Morgan and now Caitlin Clark.
The 6-foot tall guard has done nothing but shine since her time with the Iowa Hawkeyes began.
The senior just recently passed college basketball legend Pete Maravich for the most points ever scored in Division I college basketball history, men’s or women’s.
Some of the most distinguished athletes ever noticed her incredible accomplishment via a video tribute. LeBron James, Brittney Griner and Tom Brady were a few of the athletes along with plenty of other analysts and celebrities who chimed in on the video.
More than the numbers and recognition on her game, the West Des Moines, Iowa native could change women’s sports and the coverage they receive forever.
Here at Slippery Rock University, women’s sports viewership is sadly no different than the rest of the world. In terms of women’s basketball, multiple players have voiced their sorrow in seeing the amount of fans for men compared to them.
When the women play before the men for a doubleheader, it has been stated that fans pour into the stadium immediately after the women’s game in anticipation of the men taking the court.
Slippery Rock’s very own Regan Atkins confirmed the claims and believes there is a place for change.
“I think eventually at one point or another, women’s sports will be equal or right below the men’s sports, but like I said, I think a lot of that comes with social media and things like that,” Atkins said.
It takes a special athlete to influence such things off the court to receive the recognition they deserve on the court. This is something Caitlin Clark is in the process of accomplishing.
“It is something everyone wants to accomplish one day,” Atkins said. “Some of us are never going to be the all-time leading scorer in national history and things like that, but she does give you some things to look up to.”
Clark has already put the world on notice with her skill at the collegiate level and will no doubt grow the attention around women’s sports when she enters the professional world.
With little doubt, Clark will be selected first overall in the Women’s National Basketball Association draft.
If her impact thus far is any indication for the future, women’s sports could see a serious and much-needed change in years to come.
