It is no secret that the WNBA has often made attempts to be on equal measure, in terms of viewership and popularity to the NBA. There has been some improvement in this regard in the past few days, ever since 22-year-old Caitlin Clark was drafted into the league. Along with her on-court prowess, combined with her rivalry with other star players like Angel Reese, Clark’s marketability has been credited for playing a huge role in the recent rise of viewership in women’s basketball games. This unique weapon possessed by the young star is what Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green needs to be spread throughout the women’s league.
During the recent episode of his long-running podcast, Green proceeded to discuss Caitlin Clark. He highlighted that while the player is making waves, there is still another athlete who he would put above her: Las Vegas Aces power forward A’ja Wilson. Calling her the best thing since “sliced bread”, Green highlighted Wilson’s journey and why her struggles and her continued dominance make her amongst the greatest female players to walk the basketball court. Despite this, she would still probably be a little less known than Caitlin Clark. The answer to this apparent difference lies in one word – Marketability.
“A’ja Wilson is as marketable as anybody in the WNBA, but you have to figure out how to market the product,” said Green. He further went on to state, “I don’t think the WNBA do a good enough job of marketing their product, I just don’t”.
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By highlighting that the league is not making efficient use of a “gold mine” like A’ja Wilson, the Warriors stated that they are repeating the same mistakes with rookies like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Cameron Brink, etc. Therefore, Green held on to his belief that if the WNBA wants to get way ahead or at least continue maintaining its current popularity, then it may need to make some changes. This way, along with Clark, the entire league will benefit as well.
Draymond Green believes that Caitlin Clark’s team needs an ‘enforcer’
Just like several basketball enthusiasts, Draymond Green has been keeping an eye out on Caitlin Clark during her early days as a WNBA rookie. One of her most watched matchups recently took place when the Indian Fever player went up against Angel Reese’s Chicago Sky. During the game, a controversial moment took place when Reese’s teammate, Chennedy Carter, proceeded to push Clark and sent her to the ground. The moment gained more traction after it was revealed that Carter remarked “you’re a b*tch” to her rival before pushing her, and that Angel Reese allegedly cheered from the bench when it happened.
Knowing that such a thing needed to be prevented in the future, Draymond Green came out with a suggestion. He commented on an IG post covering Carter’s remarks in the aftermath of the incident, and wrote “Indiana better go invest in that enforcer… FAST!”
By getting an enforcer, the Indiana Fever could ensure that Clark and other scorers are safeguarded stars from aggressive plays like the one made by Carter. If the team did not already have someone playing that role, then they may end up making some changes in the future.
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If you wish to know more about the latest happenings in the world of the NBA. Make sure to check out what Shaquille O’Neal’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, had to say about the marketing genius.
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