@mathowie They play half as many games and draw a third as many fans. TV ratings stink. But it's changing: ratings went up 21 percent last year, *before* Clark. (Also: Clark surely has landed some endorsement deals commensurate with her star power.)
https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/38407231/wnba-ratings-highest-decades-crowds-climb
@mathowie Point of contrast: in 1979 the NBA was so unpopular that CBS broadcast them on tape delay.
Then came Larry Bird and Magic Johnson.
Those are legendary shoes to fill but Caitlin Clark might be that type of player. She electric. She passes like a magician. And most importantly she *wins*.
@gruber @mathowie Just this spring, my parents (much to my surprise!) had watched a bunch of college basketball. They and I both live near-ish to Duke, but were rooting for underdog NC State in the men's tournament. But I also went over and watched the women's final with them. My mom, especially, never watches sports but she was enthralled. All sorts of new demographics opening up.
I'll have to ask if they saw Caitlin on SNL last weekend.
