These numbers reflect Caitlin Clark’s great effect throughout the WNBA

 

The sheer number of checks on the ballot might be the most impressive Caitlin Clark stat yet.

Yes, the Indiana Fever guard scored more points than any Division I college basketball player in history — and has set some rookie records in the WNBA as well — but 700,345 All-Star votes?

No player in the league got more than 100,000 last season.

But Clark wasn’t alone in racking up those fan picks. Fever teammate Aliyah Boston got 618,680 votes, WNBA leading scorer A’ja Wilson got 607,300, two-time MVP and former Storm forward Breanna Stewart got 424,135, and fellow rookie Angel Reese earned 381,518.

One thing I noticed at the top of the ESPN.com page recently is a scroll-down menu for “WNBA.” The four letters sit to the right of NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and Soccer. That wasn’t the case through the first couple weeks of the season, where you’d have to find the league among 25 other sports.

But the Worldwide Leader recognized the Caitlin Effect — which is in play even when she’s not on the floor.

Some stats: Sportscasting.com pointed out last month that games in which Clark played drew an average of 15,591 fans to WNBA arenas, which is more than twice the 7,645 fans in attendance when she wasn’t between the lines. She is clearly the biggest draw the league has ever had, but that second number may be just as noteworthy.

Those 7,645 fans, after all, are over 1,000 more than the 6,615 attendees the WNBA averaged last year. Those other 11 boats are about 13% higher.

It doesn’t hurt that Reese — in the midst of a record 15-game double-double streak — is luring her share of eyeballs, too. But when fans familiarize themselves with other players because they’re watching their favorite player, they become invested. Boston — who’s averaging a decent-but-hardly-astounding 13.2 points and 8.3 rebounds — being second in All-Star voting attests to as much

This storyline couldn’t have played out much better for the WNBA. It’s a reminder that movies with suspense and undulations are far more gripping than Hallmark specials.

Clark didn’t just waltz into an open-armed league and dominate. She has been a flawed, tried but consistently composed protagonist.

Act 1 began with the backdrop of WNBA all-time leading scorer Diana Taurasi’s (accurate) comments that there was likely to be a learning curve for the Fever rookie.

“Reality is coming,” Taurasi said of Clark, who played her college ball at Iowa. “You look superhuman playing against some 18-year-olds, but you’re not going to come play with some grown women that have been playing professional basketball for a long time. There is going to be a transition period where you’re going to have to give yourself some grace as a rookie.”

Some interpreted this as “Haterade.” No, Diana pretty much nailed it, as the Fever lost their first five games while Caitlin became the league leader in turnovers.

I’d wondered just how loud the Caitlin steam engine would blow if she kept struggling. Then a few things happened. 1) The Fever nabbed a win against the Sparks and No. 2 overall pick Cameron Brink. Chicago’s Chennedy Carter hip-checked Clark unprovoked, seemingly to the approval of Reese. 3) Clark was left off the Olympic team (that’s different than “snubbed,” which is debatable). 4) The Fever caught fire, and Clark was the key match.

The Fever (9-14) won four in a row from June 13-21 and would make the playoffs if they started today. Clark became the first rookie to log a triple-double when she racked up 19 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds in a win over the first-place Liberty last week. On Wednesday, she tallied 29 points, 13 assists and five rebounds in a loss to Washington.

She still has a turnover issue at a league-worst 5.5 per game. But at 16.7 points, 7.6 assists (second in the league) and 5.9 rebounds — she’s locked in a Rookie of the Year battle with Reese (14.0 points, 11.9 rebounds), who seems to have become her chief rival. At least in fans’ minds.

The result has been Clark headlining the five most-watched games in WNBA history. It’s been a near triple ratings increase across television platforms.

I’ve heard it more than once: Clark might be the most polarizing figure in sports right now — yet has done nothing controversial. She’s taken a twisty path but always the high road.

It’s been great theater, no doubt. And the key to great theater? Supreme talent.