Official WNBA viewership reports

Caitlin Clark Honored as AP Female Athlete of the Year for Record-Breaking Impact on Women's Basketball

Dec 24, 2024, 03:53 PM

Caitlin Clark has been named the AP Female Athlete of the Year for her significant impact on women's basketball in both college and the WNBA. Clark, who led Iowa to the national championship game, was the top pick in the WNBA draft and subsequently won the league's Rookie of the Year award. Her presence has driven unprecedented viewership and attendance, with fans filling sold-out arenas and millions tuning in on television. Clark's achievements include breaking the NCAA Division I career scoring record with 3,951 points and setting multiple WNBA records, such as the single-game assist record with 19 assists and the fastest player to reach 100 three-pointers in 34 games. Her influence extends beyond basketball, contributing to a surge in interest in women's sports overall. A group of 74 sports journalists from The Associated Press voted on the award, with Clark receiving 35 votes, ahead of Olympic gymnast Simone Biles with 25 votes and boxer Imane Khelif with four votes. Clark is only the fourth women's basketball player to receive this honor since its inception in 1931, joining Sheryl Swoopes (1993), Rebecca Lobo (1995), and Candace Parker (2008, 2021). Shohei Ohtani won the AP Male Athlete of the Year for the third time. After her Hawkeyes lost to South Carolina for the title, Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley praised Clark for lifting up the sport. At 22 years old, Clark has handled the pressure and attention with grace, as noted by Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton. Her impact on viewership has been substantial, with WNBA TV viewership up 300% and the NCAA women's championship game drawing 18.9 million viewers, outdrawing the men's game for the first time. The 2024 WNBA draft also set a record with 2.4 million viewers. Clark credits the community of women athletes for the popularity increase, noting that they outdrew the men's Final Four.