Really? Then she should go play somewhere else. She's the star power they need and if they pay their most marketable player in the making like a middle reliever for the Cleveland Indians in the early 2000s then their brand doesn't deserve to grow.
Hey Caitlin: the MVP of the WNBA Just Signed a Contract Extension...
- Thread starter IowasLaw
- Start date
College athletics has a special fan based attraction to it. You have no basis for this claim. I, for one, will not follow her in the WNBA and people will not be driving all over the country to watch her games while paying a $1000 per ticket. No one really knows how endorsements will pan out.
We shall see. Sounds like Indy is gonna do something special for her. But again… we shall see.
Honestly, Caitlin has had her time in the “prime” and it might be a good time to move on with her life.
So, a few thoughts ...
I think Caitlin has a chance to do for the WNBA in the 2020s something similar to what Bird and Magic did for the NBA in the 1980s. I don't know that her WNBA games will ever attract the crowds that her college games do, but it's silly to think that the attendance figures people cite won't go up once Caitlin arrives. The only question is how much.
It's true that exposure, particularly TV exposure, drives endorsement deals. But TV time is not the end-all, be-all of it. For example, how many of us have spent much time watching skateboarding or snowboarding competitions on TV? Probably not many. But I'll bet most of us know who Shaun White is. Same thing goes for track and field. Almost nobody watches it on TV, save for maybe the Olympics every four years. Yet Usain Bolt became a superstar. By the way, White's net worth in 2023 was estimated at $65 million. Bolt's net worth is $90 million.
I think Clark has a chance to do something similar to what White, Bolt, and a few other athletes have done, which is to transcend their sport, and become a bigger star as a result of it. Caitlin can become the face of women in sports for the next decade. She has the personality and charisma to do it. I will guarantee you that Caitlin's agent already has a plan that will earn her millions of dollars over the next decade or so, whether she enters the WNBA now or a year from now.
But another thing to remember is that aside from exposure, endorsements are also based on popularity. And right now, Caitlin's popularity is off the charts. Sure, she has a few detractors, but those are mainly limited to rival schools and a few talking heads looking to get clicks. However, if Caitlin stays in college another year, I believe the number of detractors will grow exponentially. As much as Americans love to build up a hero, they love even more tearing one down. It could very well be that Caitlin's long-term marketability could take a hit if she stays in school another year.
If there's an NIL deal out there to pay Caitlin money to stay in school, I do not doubt that she could have a nice payday and probably make more money in the short run. But being the transcendent athlete that I believe she is, that NIL deal probably makes little difference in the overall plan.
I think Caitlin has a chance to do for the WNBA in the 2020s something similar to what Bird and Magic did for the NBA in the 1980s. I don't know that her WNBA games will ever attract the crowds that her college games do, but it's silly to think that the attendance figures people cite won't go up once Caitlin arrives. The only question is how much.
It's true that exposure, particularly TV exposure, drives endorsement deals. But TV time is not the end-all, be-all of it. For example, how many of us have spent much time watching skateboarding or snowboarding competitions on TV? Probably not many. But I'll bet most of us know who Shaun White is. Same thing goes for track and field. Almost nobody watches it on TV, save for maybe the Olympics every four years. Yet Usain Bolt became a superstar. By the way, White's net worth in 2023 was estimated at $65 million. Bolt's net worth is $90 million.
I think Clark has a chance to do something similar to what White, Bolt, and a few other athletes have done, which is to transcend their sport, and become a bigger star as a result of it. Caitlin can become the face of women in sports for the next decade. She has the personality and charisma to do it. I will guarantee you that Caitlin's agent already has a plan that will earn her millions of dollars over the next decade or so, whether she enters the WNBA now or a year from now.
But another thing to remember is that aside from exposure, endorsements are also based on popularity. And right now, Caitlin's popularity is off the charts. Sure, she has a few detractors, but those are mainly limited to rival schools and a few talking heads looking to get clicks. However, if Caitlin stays in college another year, I believe the number of detractors will grow exponentially. As much as Americans love to build up a hero, they love even more tearing one down. It could very well be that Caitlin's long-term marketability could take a hit if she stays in school another year.
If there's an NIL deal out there to pay Caitlin money to stay in school, I do not doubt that she could have a nice payday and probably make more money in the short run. But being the transcendent athlete that I believe she is, that NIL deal probably makes little difference in the overall plan.
That's a lot of words for someone that hates/doesn't watch women's sports, and had previously prognosticated, with great enthusiasm, that Caitlin Clark would be incapable of delivering Iowa a trip to the Final Four..................
Just sayin.
P.S. how'd Sam LaPorta do this year?
With the new NIL landscape there will be other players that stick around for the extra year if they got a good gig going where they are at. I hope she stays of course. But I was hoping Cooper stuck around and look what happened there.
There has been a rumor swirling recently that Fox is looking to endorse/NIL support Caitlin & Paige Bueckers if they agree to return to college basketball for one more season. I have no idea if any of that is true, but it would not surprise me in the least.
Another point ...
The highest-paid player in the WNBA last year, in terms of total earnings, was Candace Parker, who earned $8.1 million ($8 million+ coming from off-court activities).
I see no reason that Caitlin Clark couldn't come close to matching that.
For those interested, here is the list of the world's highest-paid female athletes. Lots of women on this list who aren't on TV that much.
Leave now, leave later ... Caitlin Clark is going to be a very, very wealthy woman either way.
The highest-paid player in the WNBA last year, in terms of total earnings, was Candace Parker, who earned $8.1 million ($8 million+ coming from off-court activities).
I see no reason that Caitlin Clark couldn't come close to matching that.
For those interested, here is the list of the world's highest-paid female athletes. Lots of women on this list who aren't on TV that much.
Leave now, leave later ... Caitlin Clark is going to be a very, very wealthy woman either way.
This is exactly why the WNBA needs to figure out what they can do for Caitlin regarding TV exposure, contracts, or some sort of incentives before she begins playing for them. Otherwise, I’d says it’s riskier for her to go than it would be to stay at Iowa where things are going AMAZING for her on every level: TV, playing performance, and $$
Leave a hero or stay long enough to be the villain to all the national media and talking heads about her stat padding and scared of going pro.
She is a Sr and college graduate ready to go out into life. It's selfish to expect her to stay.
She is a Sr and college graduate ready to go out into life. It's selfish to expect her to stay.
Bingo!
Staying one more year is more negative than positive…
But who’s being selfish here….#22 or Iowa fan?
Sadly, I believe Bluder's lack of recruiting success last year forced Clark's hand into declaring for the draft.
Watching the past few games, it's clear the contributors out there are 5th year seniors who will be long gone next year (i.e. Kate Martin, Molly Davis, & Gabby Marshall are all 5th year seniors and Clark is a 4th year senior). Often times, the bench scores just 4 to 6 points per game.
Behind the seniors, the cupboard will be bare and Clark would have a 0% chance at any kind of tile next year even if she scores 40 points per game.
Watching the past few games, it's clear the contributors out there are 5th year seniors who will be long gone next year (i.e. Kate Martin, Molly Davis, & Gabby Marshall are all 5th year seniors and Clark is a 4th year senior). Often times, the bench scores just 4 to 6 points per game.
Behind the seniors, the cupboard will be bare and Clark would have a 0% chance at any kind of tile next year even if she scores 40 points per game.
You have no clue what’s going on in women’s recruiting; thanks for proving that.
Check out this article from Hawk Central:
Meet the players committed to Iowa women's basketball for national signing day
Meet the players committed to Iowa women's basketball for national signing day
Get to know the five players committed to Iowa women's basketball's 2024 class, including in-stater Callie Levin and four of ESPN's top-100 players.
www.hawkcentral.com
Women's Basketball
The Official Athletic Site of the Iowa Hawkeyes, partner of WMT Digital. The most comprehensive coverage of Iowa Hawkeyes Women’s Basketball on the web with highlights, scores, game summaries, schedule and rosters.
hawkeyesports.com
Hardly a bare cupboard.
"LaPorta may indeed end up getting drafted ahead of all-Americans like Moss and Campbell, but LaPorta won't have more than 5 receptions in the NFL next year." -Guess who?
You have no clue what’s going on in women’s recruiting; thanks for proving that.
Check out this article from Hawk Central:
Meet the players committed to Iowa women's basketball for national signing day
Meet the players committed to Iowa women's basketball for national signing day
Get to know the five players committed to Iowa women's basketball's 2024 class, including in-stater Callie Levin and four of ESPN's top-100 players.www.hawkcentral.com
Women's Basketball
The Official Athletic Site of the Iowa Hawkeyes, partner of WMT Digital. The most comprehensive coverage of Iowa Hawkeyes Women’s Basketball on the web with highlights, scores, game summaries, schedule and rosters.
Hardly a bare cupboard.
He's upset because Lisa is bringing in a damn good PG who tore up her knee. I'm not upset with Lisa, but I hate it for Aaliah Guyton.
Sober - you really don’t get things. Like ever. It’s almost like you’re intentionally ignorant, and you couldn’t argue your way out of a paper bag.You have no clue what’s going on in women’s recruiting; thanks for proving that.
Check out this article from Hawk Central:
Meet the players committed to Iowa women's basketball for national signing day
Meet the players committed to Iowa women's basketball for national signing day
Get to know the five players committed to Iowa women's basketball's 2024 class, including in-stater Callie Levin and four of ESPN's top-100 players.www.hawkcentral.com
Women's Basketball
The Official Athletic Site of the Iowa Hawkeyes, partner of WMT Digital. The most comprehensive coverage of Iowa Hawkeyes Women’s Basketball on the web with highlights, scores, game summaries, schedule and rosters.
Hardly a bare cupboard.
Iowa’s incoming recruiting class LAST YEAR was the bottom of the big 10. It included zero upperclassmen from the portal. None of them play. None. You think a bunch of 17 yr old high schoolers who haven’t even been to prom yet are going to come in next year entice Clark to return for a title run?😂. There’s a reason the C students go into teaching. Thanks for proving my point.
Did you even bother to look at the returning players? They’re returning Feuerbach, Affolter, Stuelke, O’Grady, McCabe and others. Plus 4 top 100 recruits. Hardly a bare cupboard.
Of course they’re not likely to be a title contender next year. That tends to happen when you lose the best player in school history. But they’re still likely a tournament team next year and that’s never a bad place to be.
I did.
Feuerbach - 2 pts per game
O'Grady - 4 pts per game
McCabe - 3 pts per game
Affolter - 7 pts per game.
Every team in the country is returning that kind of production or better. Clark's not going to tarnish her legacy playing for a bubble team. If Bluder wanted to keep Clark around for another year, it was on her to provide Clark with the talent to make a title run. She squandered that opportunity.
Yeah, you think those numbers might possibly be because they’re bench players this year? Heck, this year was the first time in 3 years I think we rolled out a different starting 5.
safe to say they’ll see minutes increase and their production will increase as well.
your ability to find the negative in anything is astounding.
Saying she squandered that opportunity is painting with a pretty broad brush. I have no idea of their inside personal conversations and I doubt many others do either.
So I guess this post was pretty ineffectual in swaying her decision.
Don't forget you're talking to someone who self-admittedly doesn't enjoy watching women's sports.
He doesn't care. He's just making yet another Skip Bayless/Stephen A. Smith "look at how right I am" antagonistic thread/string of posts.
Ask him about his irl thoughts on black people. See what he has to say then........
Quit trolling. This is such a dumbass take. As @kceasthawk has stated her endorsement money isn't going anywhere. So she's going to be making her salary plus the endorsements. Now whether anyone on here likes the WNBA or not it's the only professional league in the US. And it's got the best players in the world. She's done all she can do at Iowa. Broken every record, and lead Iowa ( yes, Iowa) to a National Championship game, the only one in my lifetime. Hats off to her and good luck to her in her next challenge. Hope she kills it.
This. Only thing she hasn’t done is win the title; and that’s such a difficult thing to even get there.
To me, she has nothing left to prove in college, and I’ve never seen an indicator that money is what’s driving her.
As Bobby wrote in his column it would be one thing to hold the "title thing" over her head the way Jay Williams did, IF it was a best of 7 deal like the pro's, but a one game elimination is to big an ask, when anything can happen, and expecting her to come back for a whole season when ONE loss in the tourney ends the whole year, No way..
Agreed. Selfishly, I’d have loved for her to come back one more year; but other than a title she has nothing left to do at Iowa.
He definitely intended it that way - it was directed at me.
Of course, he’d made a couple of idiotic, negative comments that i corrected him on and he doesn’t like being corrected.
Just an awful, awful poster. When I think he's made his worst one yet, he completely outdoes himself. Truly incredible
