Caitlin Clark is already reminding people of Michael Jordan. Her game-changing talent, trash-talking skills, and electrifying presence are all convincing signs. But perhaps her biggest impact is off the court. When we think about the impact Clark can have on the basketball world, it’s fair to think of His Airness, who ushered in a new era for the NBA. Whether Clark will achieve the same for the WNBA remains to be seen. But former football player Jason Whitlock recently made it clear that he’s not a fan of the Jordan comparisons.

On his show, Jason Whitlock mentioned that although Caitlin Clark could attain popularity similar to LeBron James, it’s unlikely for her to reach the level of Michael Jordan’s iconic status. Naturally elevating another Jordan and James conversation, he said, “Caitlyn Clark will sell as many gym shoes as LeBron James. She won’t sell [Michael] Jordan levels.”  

Clark is certainly the fresh face of women’s college basketball. She signed a NIL deal with Nike in 2022. They have been selling Hawkeyes’ shirts with Clark’s name and number throughout the tournament. Though she is yet to have her own signature shoe, the 22-year-old has been donning the Nike Kobe Protro line since signing with the shoe giant.

While Jason Whitlock does think Clark can make big numbers with her shoes, he doesn’t favor the Michael Jordan comparison.

Will Caitlin Clark be able to silence her doubters?

Just recently, Clark shattered the NCAAW career scoring record, after scoring 49 points and 13 assists against Michigan, propelling her team to a 106-89 victory. Her 35-foot three-pointer saw the player swiftly break Kelsey Plum’s record to become NCAA women’s basketball’s all-time scoring leader.

She has amassed an impressive 3,569 points. The 22-year-old isn’t very far from surpassing the AIAW major college record held by Lynette Woodard at 3,649 points. But the question is whether it is too soon to draw comparisons between Clark and the legendary Chicago Bulls star Jordan. Whitlock certainly isn’t the only one with doubts. But so far, the brands have been betting their money on the Hawkeyes’ #22. 

The guard has secured partnerships with industry giants like Nike, Gatorade, State Farm, Buick, Hy-Vee, H&R Block, Topps, Shoot-A-Way, and Bose. Having said that, we are yet to witness the 22-year-old’s full potential. Do you think Caitlin Clark will live up to the fans’ expectations and introduce a new era to the WNBA like Jordan did in the NBA? What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments section below.

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