Jim Shella: Here’s why Caitlin Clark matters to the WNBA

I usually write about politics or government or matters related to those topics, but I need a break. I mean, I turned off the TV a little more than halfway through the Trump/Biden debate and then did a news blackout for a couple of days. I couldn’t take it anymore.

And so, let’s talk about sports. Or more specifically, let’s talk about Caitlin Clark. I know, I know, everybody’s talking about Caitlin Clark. I even saw that she was recently the subject of a discussion on television in Greece. But I have some Caitlin Clark thoughts that I want to share.

The first is that the talk in the media that Clark will grow the women’s game is real. And I’m not just talking about ticket purchases by people who want to see a celebrity. I mean that her play is bringing new fans to the WNBA who, I believe, will stick with it long term.

I found evidence in my own living room. My wife, a sports agnostic, recently asked me to teach her about basketball so she could better understand the Caitlin Clark story. That’s how the game grows.

The other day, we were hanging out at the swimming pool of a friend when, after checking my phone, I announced that Clark had just scored a triple-double. “What’s a triple-double?” asked one of the women there. I explained that it occurs when a player hits double figures in three statistical categories such as scoring, assists and rebounds. That’s how the game grows.

I recently joined a Facebook group for Indiana Fever fans (something I would never do pre-Clark), and the discussion there is spirited and prolific. It often includes questions from people new to the sport, and the answers are often supported by statistics and detailed explanations. That’s how you grow the game.

I, personally, can claim a connection to women’s basketball that is longer than most. I grew up in Minnesota just 30 miles from Iowa. When I was a kid in the 1960s, the Iowa state women’s high school basketball tournament was carried by one of the three TV stations we received. I watched closely. It was a half-court game in those days with teams playing 3-on-3. It was also very competitive and very popular.

My interest in women’s basketball has waxed and waned in the time since. I was all in when Tamika Catchings led the Fever to a championship but, frankly, lost interest in recent years.

Clark has me paying attention again—not just because she is very good at what she does but also because it gives the city of Indianapolis something to rally around. I love the Indianapolis Indians and go to games, but a minor league team just doesn’t generate interest like a major league team. And, in the summer, the Indiana Fever is the only major league team in town.

I don’t care much for the hype to create a rivalry between Clark and Angel Reese, who plays for the Chicago Sky. And I don’t enjoy the debate about whether Clark is treated badly because she is white and heterosexual. That’s based on speculation. I enjoy the basketball.

I also enjoy the fact that Clark gives good answers to almost all the questions directed her way. She is humble and thoughtful. She’s a leader and a role model. She sets an example for young girls to follow. That’s how you grow the game.

And now, back to politics. Is Joe Biden still in the race?•

__________

Shella hosted WFYI’s “Indiana Week in Review” for 25 years and covered Indiana politics for WISH-TV for more than three decades. Send comments to ibjedit@ibj.com.

Click here for more Forefront columns.