Caitlin Clark’s rise in women’s basketball has made her a phenomenon, a name that resonates far beyond the hardwood. Back at Iowa, she carved out a legacy that’s hard to top – her No. 22 jersey now hangs in the rafters, a tribute to a collegiate career in which she earned two National Player of the Year honors and dominated the NCAA, leading the charts in assists and scoring three times each in four years. Her star power has grown to the point where it feels bigger than the WNBA itself. Six teams – the Atlanta Dream, Chicago Sky, Connecticut Sun, Dallas Wings, Las Vegas Aces and Washington Mystics – have moved games to larger arenas just to accommodate the crowds she draws. At 23, Clark isn’t just a player; she’s a movement, and now the NFL is taking notice.
NFL Enlists Clark to Champion Flag Football’s Future
The NFL is pulling Clark into its orbit for a bold new venture: flag football. Next week, she’ll take center stage at the league’s annual owners meeting in Palm Beach, Florida, on a panel with tennis legend Serena Williams, ex-Giants QB Eli Manning and Broncos co-owner Mellody Hobson. The focus? Women’s sports and the NFL’s big plans for flag football, which will debut as an Olympic event at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.
The league sees this as a golden opportunity to engage young athletes – girls and boys alike – and perhaps even lay the groundwork for professional flag football leagues down the road. “It’s a top priority for us,” said NFL EVP Jeff Miller. “Young women can get in on the action, and there’s a real interest in building something professional for both genders.” With Clark’s appeal, the NFL is betting on her to help kick it off in style.
Clark’s WNBA Impact and What’s Ahead
When the WNBA season tips off on May 16, all eyes will be on Clark’s second year with the Indiana Fever. Her rookie run was electric-she shattered records left and right, broke the single-season mark with 337 assists, and dropped a staggering 19 in one game, all while leading the Fever to their first playoff appearance since 2016. The goal now? A championship, Indiana’s second since 2012. Off the court, she’s rewriting the league’s financial playbook – merchandise is flying off the shelves, ticket sales are skyrocketing, and venues are expanding to keep up. At just 23, Clark is not only the WNBA’s biggest draw, but arguably the most influential figure in women’s sports today.
With more than a month until tip-off, time is flying and her encore is shaping up to be massive. Caitlin Clark’s reach extends beyond basketball, bridging the future of the NFL and flag football, while taking the WNBA to new heights. Whether she’s running the point or lending her voice to a new sport, she’s proving to be a game-changer in every sense of the word. The world of sports is hers.
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