The best thing about time is that it changes. In 1997, when the WNBA kicked off its inaugural season, though the fanfare was unexpected, with more than 50 million viewers watching the games during the season, even the greats weren’t globally recognized. Sheryl Swoopes, the league’s first 3x MVP, still remains lesser known than her then-NBA counterparts. In contrast, rookie Caitlin Clark became the most-recognized female basketball player in just her rookie year. Why does this stark distinction exist?

In 2024, Clark broke a boatload of all-time records in continuation of her historic NCAA spree with Iowa. Consequently, the viewership rose threefold YoY, with the games averaging 1.3 million viewers compared to 2023’s 462,000. The Caitlin Clark Effect also made Game 2 of the Indiana Fever’s first-round playoff matchup against the Connecticut Sun the highest-watched game, averaging 2.5 million viewers. 8x NBA All-Star Dwight Howard believes this mammoth difference in WNBA eras comes from the social media-led omnipresence.

“Not taking away from all the greats that have played, but right now, because of social media and the status of it, I believe that two women have really catapulted what the rest of the women who came before have already laid the foundation for, and that’s Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese,” Howard said on his Above the Rim with DH12 podcast. The 38-year-old reiterated his point to his guest, Jeanie Buss, owner of the LA Lakers.

“It’s no offense to the women that came before cuz I’ve been watching WNBA since Cynthia Cooper, Cheryl Miller, Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie, all those women back in the day. So we not taking nothing away from you. You women have been so amazing. Just trying to get the fact out that these two women, because of the era that we’re living in with social media, they have opened a lot of people’s eyes to what you women have already done,” Howard further explained on the podcast.

Clark’s heroics have landed her fans from across eras and leagues. Though she has yet to completely win over Sheryl Swoopes, the likes of LeBron James, Lisa Leslie, Steph Curry, and many other legends have bowed down to her greatness. The latest to join this list are not fellow active players, but retired aces of the game.

Caitlin Clark finds new fans in a 2x Olympic gold medalist and the WNBA’s newest head coach

The Indiana Fever lucked out in 2024. Their 1st overall pick from the draft elevated the entire team’s spirit to make their first playoff appearance in 8 years. Clark scored a record 769 points, averaging 19.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 8.4 assists (a league-high), and 1.3 steals. She started in all 40 regular season games, as Dwight Howard did for the Orland Magic in his rookie year (starting 82-of-82 games).

The 6-foot Indiana Guard also lit up the crowd on many occasions after sinking ridiculous long-distance 3s. This caused a wave of Stephen Curry comparisons to emerge. 5x NBA All-Star Chris Mullin is the latest to join the party. “I love her game. A lot like Steph. She reminds me of Steph Curry a lot,” the 2x Olympian said. “She showed a lot of toughness. I thought she showed a lot of toughness. Her skill is incredible. I love the shot-making. WNBA is on fire, man.”

The new head coach of the Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA’s newest team to enter in 2025, was also blown away by the Caitlin Clark effect. “Not just shooting, she could pass, she can get in your face, and she’s just very, very competitive,” Natalie Nakase said. “I’m not surprised she has helped the W in a great impactful way and now we’re just moving forward with her energy.”

Clark’s Year 2 in the WNBA is bound to be a rollercoaster ride for Indiana and her rivals. History will be rewritten on countless occasions, and hopefully, Sheryl Swoopes will cheer for the league’s superstar who is carrying her legacy forward.