The buzz and attention surrounding Caitlin Clark’s game are unlike anything seen in the league until now. The jersey sales, the sold-out stadiums, the peak viewership — this massive wave of popularity mirrors the excitement that swept through the NBA in the ’80s when Michael Jordan became a household name. So WNBA analyst Nancy Lieberman believes that Clark deserves admiration as MJ does as opposed to the lack of recognition or criticism that may come her way. 

Calling out the critics and haters, Lieberman on The Stephen A. Smith Show said, “I just don’t understand people. Now you have signature shoes for both men and women because of what MJ did and how he and his team constructed business. Caitlin is doing that right now and she should be supported and not maligned for that.”

Lieberman’s claims about Clark’s influence are understandable when we bring Clark’s $28 million Nike deal, which is the most lucrative shoe deal in WNBA history. Clark is soon expected to receive her own signature shoe as well. Jordan’s wasn’t quite hushed itself — 5 year, $2.5 million deal, 3 times that of any other deal in the league.

Thus drawing parallels, Liberman continues on to say that it is jealousy that is driving the ‘lack of support’ toward Caitlin Clark as previously observed towards other notable players like Jordan or Tiger Woods. “It’s not a Caitlin thing. It’s a people thing. I mean, people were so jealous of Michael Jordan back in 1984… UNC Chicago stadium was half empty prior to him arriving. The stadiums were filling up then. TV wanted him and the Bulls on every game,” she says.

Expanding on her point, Liberman further exampled Woods as the ‘catalyst to change’ in golf in terms of purse and TV ratings. “all of a sudden he gets to a certain point in his career and people are jealous and envious you know,” Lieberman notes. 

So you ask about Clark’s impact? Within just 20 minutes, fans snapped up Clark’s WNBA All-Star jersey in both colors, selling out completely. The Indiana Fever leads the league in attendance, recording a 265% jump from last season with a turn up number of 503,921 across 31 games. 

Liberman’s opinions were a continuation of her praise for the rookie from her most recent game.

Nancy Lieberman expresses her gratitude for Caitlin Clark 

Instead of just urging the fans, Lieberman took the lead herself. During the broadcast of the Fever vs Dallas Wings game, the analyst had high praise for the rookie. Fully aware that her bold statement might draw criticism, Lieberman chose to speak her mind.

She thanked Clark for drawing attention to the game. The WNBA 2024 season began with the highest attendance ever seen in 27 years. The continuous rise in viewership backs the claim, with the games averaging 1.32 million viewers in the first month, nearly triple last year’s average. Fans voting for the All-Star has been the highest this year. 

“What Caitlin Clark has done for the game is generational. As a baller to a baller, I just want to say thank you to you Caitlin Clark for just lifting our game up,” Lieberman said. And she isn’t the first one to think so.

She added, “You and so many great players, but what you’re doing, you’re going to make all these women multi-millionaires one day like Tiger did, like Michael Jordan did. And we shouldn’t hate on her, we should celebrate her, not tolerate her.”  The growing crowds in the stadium are live proof of Clark’s impact. The Fever rookie has undeniably transformed women’s basketball and she indeed does it in a way reminiscent of what MJ once did for the NBA.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.