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Associated Press
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Book Review: Christine Brennan's ‘On Her Game' explores the Caitlin Clark Effect on the WNBA
'On Her Game: Caitlin Clark and the Revolution in Women's Sports,' the title of USA Today columnist Christine Brennan's new book about the WNBA star, is doing a lot of work. On one hand, it's about the game, right? Nobody can deny Caitlin Clark's talent on a basketball court, where her rookie season stats with the Indiana Fever were eye-popping: 19.2 points, 8.4 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game while leading the WNBA in assists and 3-pointers made. On the other hand, why is Caitlin Clark the poster child for a 'Revolution in Women's Sports?' The WNBA's been around since 1997 and plenty of female athletes are or were the very best at what they do, inspiring millions of young women to play all sorts of sports — from Serena Williams to Simone Biles to Lindsey Vonn. But there's something more to the Caitlin Clark phenomenon, and it's that something that Brennan's reporter instincts sensed early, when Clark was filling the Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City for every home game, well before her remarkable first year in the WNBA. 'What was going on?' writes Brennan in her introduction. 'Was this because Clark is white and straight in a league that is 74% Black or mixed-race, with a sizable gay population?… Was it because of her eight-year $28 million Nike shoe deal?… Was it jealousy? Was it all of the above?' Hoping to find answers or at least insights into those questions, Brennan convinced her editor to let her cover six straight weeks of Clark's first WNBA season, giving 'On Her Game' a comprehensive feel, except for one thing: Clark never sat down for a one-on-one interview with Brennan. She did, however, answer every question Brennan posed at press conferences, and they are widely quoted throughout the book, along with all sorts of other Clark content like TV appearances and social media posts as well as interviews Brennan conducted with other WNBA players, coaches and various experts. Brennan's presence at Fever games, home and away, and her intense focus on Clark as a singular story became a story of its own in September 2024, when Brennan asked follow-up questions of DiJonai Carrington, a Phoenix Sun player whose fingers made contact with Clark's eye during a playoff game. Brennan asked Carrington if there was anything intentional about it, she said no, and days later the WNBA Players Association called for Brennan's media credential to be revoked for 'unprofessionalism.' Ten months later, it's a good bet only the most diehard sports journalism fans will care about that controversy. Brennan makes it very clear how she feels about it. 'I was doing my job,' she writes. Clark's race and the frosty reception she got from some in the league is returned to again and again, with Brennan and the people she talked to asserting with incredulity that the WNBA wasn't ready for all the attention. 'The league needed to do a better job in preparing… to take advantage of the tsunami of popularity that is raising all of the boats,' legendary civil rights activist Dr. Harry Edwards told Brennan. Instead, Brennan cites example after example — from WNBA legends like Diana Taurasi and Sheryl Swoopes, to fellow female athletes like former USWNT goalie Breanna Stewart — who made statements minimizing Clark's impact. It all makes for an interesting read and speaks to the divisive 'us vs. them' moment the world finds itself in, but fans looking for tidbits about Clark that are not already part of the public record — how she learned to shoot like that, her on- and off-court life — will have to stay tuned to the current WNBA season. Clark's Fever team is in the middle of the pack in the Eastern Conference, with their superstar having missed several games with a quadriceps injury. The playoffs begin Sept. 14. ___ AP book reviews:
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Caitlin Clark hopeful trip to Carver can become regular WNBA stop
A week ago, Caitlin Clark led the Fever against the Brazil National Team from inside Carver where a sellout crowd watched Clark score 16 points and knock down four 3-pointers. That included one long range shot from beyond the logo on the Carver floor that commemorates where she set the new NCAA Division I scoring mark from. Clark and the Fever topped the Brazilian National Team, 108-44, in front of nearly 15,000 spectators. Advertisement The 6-foot guard is hopeful that she and the Indiana Fever can make Carver-Hawkeye Arena a regular stop in the future. "Yeah, I mean, I would love to be able to come back here every year," Clark said. "I don't know if that's gonna happen or not, but, I'm just really, really thankful for W and for the Fever organization wanting to play this game here. And obviously the Brazilian national team had to agree to do it too, so you got to give them credit as well. I think it's really good for our fans that might not have a chance to go see us play in the W at a certain city. The closest one to here is probably Chicago, and that's still three hours, or Minnesota. "Not everybody has that ability to get to a city like that, so I think it gives them a great opportunity to come cheer for us and also see a team they probably watched on TV quite a few times. I told my teammates, you know, they're going to be here cheering for me, yes, but they're also going to be here cheering for you and our entire team. I think that's what's so great about these fans is they really rally around the entire team. It's not just myself and that's what I love about them," Clark said after the preseason contest in Iowa City. It seems like a no-brainer that the WNBA would want to continue bringing Clark and the Fever to Iowa City. Maybe the WNBA and Fever franchise can work out the details on playing a regular season game from inside Carver. That would be next level. Advertisement Clark and the Fever closed their WNBA preseason on Saturday with an 81-76 win at the Atlanta Dream. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Josh on X: @JoshOnREF This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Caitlin Clark hopeful trip to Carver can become regular WNBA stop
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Caitlin Clark Teammate Catches Attention With Pregame Outfit
Caitlin Clark left Iowa as one of the most decorated college basketball players in the history of the game. While she failed to win a national title, Clark racked up just about every personal award possible all while setting the all-time scoring records - in men's or women's NCAA history. Following her record-setting Hawkeyes career she became the No. 1 overall pick by the Indiana Fever, which she helped to the playoffs for the first time in eight years. Advertisement After winning Rookie of the Year in her first season in the league, Clark is making a brief return to Iowa before her second WNBA season kicks off. She and the Fever are hitting the court against Brazil at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, IA on May 4. Ahead of the game her teammate, Lexie Hull, whipped out a tribute for the Iowa superstar. "Lexie Hull reppin' Caitlin Clark's 22 for today's game in Iowa," the Fever said, showing a photo of Hull's mid-riff revealing outfit. The comments second was flooded with love from fans over the look. "Lexie looks great reppin 22," one person said. Advertisement "Our girls are soooo beautiful Rep that Lex!!!" offered another. "YEA BUDDY REP IT LEXIE," added a third. Clark missed the team's first preseason game against the Washington Mystics with a leg injury, but head coach Stephanie White loved her communication from the bench. "Her communication was outstanding," White said. "She was really engaged, and I felt like at one point she wanted to go back and put her uniform on and come out and play. "As far as a status update, she's had a lot of progress in the last 24 hours, and that was our goal. We'll see what happens and how she feels after the workouts that she went through today. Hopefully, she'll be ready to go [Sunday]." Advertisement Indiana and Brazil tip off at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN. Related: Fans in Disbelief Over Photo of Flexing Caitlin Clark
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Caitlin Clark's Dad Calls Out WNBA Officials Without Hesitation
Caitlin Clark's strained relationship with officials is well-documented, going back before her WNBA career with the Indiana Fever to her college days with the Iowa Hawkeyes. Therefore, it was no surprise that the topic of officiating arose during a live in-game interview on ESPN with her dad, Brent Clark, in the middle of the Fever's preseason game at Iowa's Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday. Advertisement Indiana took down the Brazil national team 108-44 in Clark's first game back on the floor at the University of Iowa. The NCAA all-time leading scorer registered the first points of the game with a three-pointer that drew a deafening roar from the crowd. Despite concerns about a lingering leg injury, the former Hawkeyes star finished with 16 points, six rebounds and five assists in 19 minutes of preseason action. The heartwarming homecoming vibes were not enough to stop her dad from criticizing the officials when he had the mic on ESPN. "You're new WNBA parents," ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe said to Clark's dad during their interview in the third quarter. "What did you learn in (Caitlin's) rookie season that you can help support her and be there for her in this coming season?" Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) smiles at an official during a game between the Indiana Fever and the Connecticut Sun at Gainbridge Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK "There's a lot of room for improvement there, particularly in the officiating," the two-sport college athlete said without hesitation. Advertisement "I've noticed a little bit of a difference," he conceded during the Fever's offensive onslaught against Brazil. "It seems like they're really officiating the game like it should be officiated. If you make the game more fluid people are going to like the product even more than it is right now." Last season, his daughter picked up six technical fouls for Indiana, one short of a WNBA suspension. She has stated that her goal for this year is to receive no more than two techs, and she has already been seen in preseason chatting with any official who will listen to ask for more calls in 2025. If the WNBA officials follow Brent's advice and let the players play more, she'll have a better chance to achieve her conservative goal. Fans do not believe she has a chance to follow through, and her dad's unprompted comments seemed to suggest that agreeing with the refs simply is not in Clark's DNA. Advertisement Related: Caitlin Clark's Request Leaves NBA Official Speechless Related: Caitlin Clark Hit With Stern Warning From Fever Teammates
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Stephanie White Sets the Tone for 2025 With Strong Caitlin Clark Statement
Caitlin Clark is one of the most exciting players to watch in the game of basketball. From logo three pointers to no-look assists, the Indiana Fever All-Star has the ability to entertain the masses every time she steps on the court. Clark made that fact very evident in the Fever's preseason matchup against the Brazilian national team on Sunday. In front of a packed house at Iowa's Carver-Hawkeye Arena, the NCAA's all-time leading scorer put on a show. Advertisement Clark took and made a deep logo three in the preseason contest, adding yet another viral moment to her already-impressive career highlight reel. After the game, Fever head coach Stephanie White was asked about "letting Caitlin be Caitlin" as she heads into her second WNBA season. "I've been watching her do it for 4-5 years," White said. "That's just who she is. It's what she does. No one tells Steph Curry not to take good shots, right?" Clark finished her debut WNBA season averaging 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and a league-leading 8.4 assists per game, winning Rookie of the Year and leading the Fever to their first playoff appearance since 2016. Advertisement Despite this success, there are many fans who feel Clark was held back by now-former Fever head coach Christie Sides in her debut campaign. "THIS is what we were missing last season!" one fan wrote. "You don't tell shooters like Caitlin where to shoot from," another said. "She really gets it. CC couldn't have asked for a better coach," another added. "This is why she's the best coach," another wrote. Indiana Fever guards Caitlin Clark and Lexie Hull© Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Clark and the Fever will tipoff their 2025 regular-season schedule with a highly-anticipated matchup against Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky on May 15.
