“It happened to us last year. Everything was about Caitlin Clark and her legacy… I want the sentiments to be about our players and what our players have been able to do. Equally.” These were Dawn Staley’s remarks before the highly anticipated UConn-South Carolina championship game. They took a direct shot at the ‘national narratives’ that form throughout a tournament. Having won the NCAA tournament in 2017, 2022, and 2024, Staley’s South Carolina Gamecocks slowly emerged to be among the most discussed female college basketball squads. However, over the last 2 years, the narratives around Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers have allegedly overshadowed women’s basketball. A narrative that Staley hasn’t been a big fan of. Despite that, one analyst was willing to defend Bueckers, and even Clark, by providing a contrasting viewpoint.

Rachel Annmarie DeMita recently released another episode of her long-running ‘Courtside Club’ show. Discussing Staley’s remarks about the national narratives, DeMita agreed that the Gamecocks’ head coach had a point. However, she also believed that “When it comes to superstars, standout stars, people that really grab your attention, there are certain players who are just going to have that effect”. Without us knowing, Caitlin Clark rose to extreme stardom through her playmaking skills and record-setting feats. Meanwhile, according to the analyst, the South Carolina squad going undefeated last year was impressive, but could not make an impression on the “casual audience” just as much. Sure, it wasn’t right. However, one cannot ignore interesting storylines when they form by themselves.

“So I get what she’s (Staley’s) saying, because there should be equal media coverage for teams that are performing really well, but they’re also just like the story lines write themselves, and it’s up to the media to cover those storylines as they go, not to push narratives,” said Demita.

She further added, “And so, I agree with her in that sense. But I also, there’s something to say here, the storyline of Paige winning a national championship, and then going straight into the draft, when we’ve been following Paige Beckers since high school, that is a great story line. That’s what a lot of people, especially casual fans, want to hear about. Yes there is also room to cover South Carolina, but I guarantee if you put up two videos on ESPN, or two segments, the one that’s going to get the most attraction, the most people talking on TikTok again, is going to be about Paige”.

The crux of her argument is that one cannot simply ignore what the audience likes. It may be the reason why the Fast and Furious movies have gone on for so long, even though the recent films haven’t received the best reviews from critics. In the world of basketball, good storylines are a way to retain the attention of those who are otherwise not that impressed with stats. The Bird-Johnson Rivalry, Michael Jordan’s Rise to GOAT status, LeBron James led Cleveland Cavaliers vs Steph’s Golden State Warriors, etc, are all examples of storylines amplified by the media and the NBA to increase and/or retain the attention of fans.

For a while, Dawn Staley herself was the center of a prominent storyline. After all, a former WNBA player returning to the college level as a coach, and winning 3 NCAA Division I tournaments and 7 NCAA regional championships over 2 decades, creates a memorable tale of success. Unfortunately, as in show business and even sports, something better always comes along.

Caitlin Clark is an example of the effect that a great storyline can have. During her days with the Iowa Hawkeyes, her on-court skills, games, and overall individual personality were promoted in a big way. As a result, the Iowa Hawkeyes generated more than $3.2 million in ticket sales back in 2023-24. A rematch against Angel Reese’s LSU back in college shattered the viewership record with 12.3 million viewers. The game became the most-watched women’s college basketball game ever.

The ‘Caitlin Clark effect’ continued to be seen even after she went to the WNBA. Indiana Fever GM Lin Dunn commented on it back in September 2024. She stated, “To have fans hanging from the rafters and sold-out arenas not only at home but on the road … it means the world to me”. Due to that storyline, Fever will have 41 of its 44 games nationally broadcast, a record for the WNBA.

Paige Bueckers, in a way, is the new Caitlin Clark. Along with exceptional on-court skills, she brings in viewership too. However, can she have the same effect on viewership and ticket sales as Caitlin Clark did? The Indiana Fever star herself seems to believe so.

Caitlin Clark believes Paige Bueckers will be able to increase Dallas Wings fans: “Paige has that type of draw”

Paige Bueckers is not going to be just any 1st-round pick in the WNBA draft. She is expected to be the 1st overall pick! For this year, that honor has gone to the Dallas Wings. Caitlin Clark was drafted as the 1st overall pick by the Indiana Fever only last year. Therefore, there was no better person than her to address how things will go for Paige Bueckers. Fortunately, the UConn star was brought up when Clark joined WNBA legends Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi during a conversation on the day of the recent NCAA women’s championship game.

“I think she’ll honestly fit right in,” said Clark. “[College Park Center] is fun to play in, too. It’s a small place, it’s loud. You know honestly, they should move every game to American Airlines because I think Paige has that type of draw. She’ll be able to bring those types of fans in.”

According to reports, the UConn vs. UCLA matchup attracted 4.1 million viewers and peaked at 4.7 million. This made it the fifth-most viewed Final Four game on an ESPN platform. Meanwhile, the South Carolina vs. Texas game drew 3.6 million viewers. Together, Friday’s Final Four was the third most-watched NCAA women’s national semifinals since 1995. At this rate, one can only imagine how things will be once Paige Bueckers becomes a WNBA player. The fanbase that the UConn star will bring might double the effect Caitlin Clark reportedly had on the pro league. Do you believe that Paige Bueckers’ presence in the WNBA will have the same ‘Caitlin Clark effect’? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section down below.