Michael Jordan-esque ‘lore’ will help Caitlin Clark push WNBA to new heights despite ongoing criticism

Caitlin Clark's game and fame have helped the Iowa Hawkeyes and WNBA just as Michael Jordan did with UNC and the NBA.

Michael Jordan-esque ‘lore’ will help Caitlin Clark push WNBA to new heights despite ongoing criticism

Caitlin Clark is having a Michael Jordan esque impact on the Iowa Hawkeyes and the WNBA

Caitlin Clark has built a reputation of a player whose skills have managed to capture the attention of basketball fans both in college and the WNBA. At the same time, that increased attention is helping her Iowa Hawkeyes become a legit program where top recruits want to play.

The program really took off after Caitlin Clark joined. She had other major college program options to choose from but preferred to stay close to home. Then on, she developed into the best point guard in the nation and went on to break NCAA records.

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More importantly, her play and ability to draw fans brought the Iowa Hawkeyes unprecedented attention. That attention has ended up with the program netting another five-star recruit for next season in Addison Deal. When the current Hawkeyes head coach Jan Jensen was asked about Clark’s impact, she said.

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I think Caitlin’s impact will not just be on this year’s, but I think in most years to come. I think I’ve used that Michael Jordan analogy with North Carolina. You will always be part of the lore. People who have the Jordan brand, that’s Jordan right. I think Caitlin is similar in that impact.

Jan Jensen to reporter Blake Hornstein

The Iowa Hawkeyes head coach referenced Michael Jordan‘s impact at North Carolina to suggest Clark had the same for her program. Just as everyone Jordan’s days at UNC helped them become a major program, Jensen feels the Hawkeyes will be the same.

Jan Jensen added that Caitlin Clark knows how to manage the attention and shine at the same time. Jensen believes as Clark has stayed grounded, she has been able to shut out the criticisms and continue helping the WNBA reach new heights.

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Caitlin Clark is more marketable than A’ja Wilson

The criticism off late directed towards the WNBA Rookie of the Year has been when she was announced Time Magazine’s Athlete of the Year. The criticism was that she was on the cover whereas deserving black superstars such as A’ja Wilson were not. Former NBA player Jim Jackson clarified how that works.

A’ja Wilson is the best player in the WNBA. But Caitlin is more marketable because people tend to resonate. There is a race component to it, there always will be in some regards. But the player itself, the person what she was able to do, how she resonated, how she drew eyes to the TV.

Jim Jackson on The Jim Jackson Show

The former star added that the Indiana Fever superstar’s battles with Angel Reese brought the most eyes to the WNBA. However, he added that from a marketing perspective, Clark outshines everyone. He hammered home the point that she was the reason for the massive growth of the league.

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Therefore, he did not agree with Washington Mystics owner Sheila Johnson‘s comments about the league growing on its own. He believes there might be better players than the 22-year-old in the league, such as A’ja Wilson. But Wilson does not draw the eyeballs like Clark does.