Cooper Flagg has already begun shaping his public image after being selected first overall by the Dallas Mavericks in the 2025 NBA Draft.
He offers some much-needed praise to women’s basketball – and especially the Indiana Fever‘s Caitlin Clark.
The 18-year-old forward from the Duke Blue Devils is quickly earning recognition for both his talent and his thoughtful perspective on the game, and revealed his personal Mount Rushmore of WNBA legends.
Without skipping a beat, the next big thing in the NBA listed three of the league’s most dominant and influential figures, and one well on her way there in the form of Clark, who is currently the reigning Rookie of the Year.
“In the WNBA, Candace Parker, Brittney Griner,” Flagg told reporters. “I think A’ja Wilson is on there.
“I might put Caitlin Clark on there just because she’s changed the game so much, and it’s heading in the right direction. And I just love what she’s been able to do.”
Clark, a former overall first pick, entered the league with immense hype – and delivered during her rookie campaign, as she averaged 19.2 points, 8.4 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game and smashed several records.
For example, she claimed the records for most rookie points and most rookie assists as her presence also elevated the WNBA’s mainstream profile to unprecedented levels – bringing in an average of 657,000 viewers per game.
Ticket sales surged as well, with StubHub reporting a 145% increase in purchases compared to 2023; and in the same year, Clark’s jersey became the second-best-selling across all basketball, surpassing LeBron James briefly too.
So, Flagg‘s inclusion of Clark on his WNBA Mount Rushmore is not just a compliment. It’s a signal of how seriously the next generation of basketball stars is taking the growth of the women’s game – and how much Caitlin‘s influence is being felt across.
Despite being sidelined in 2025, the Fever ace has still managed to average 18.2 points, 8.9 assists, and 5.0 rebounds across nine games this season as her early doors form had her tipped for the MVP race.
That’s despite multiple injuries, including a left quadriceps strain and, most recently, a groin injury that kept her out of Indiana’s June 26 game against the Los Angeles Sparks, interrupting her momentum.
Flagg impresses in media duties for Mavericks
Flagg, meanwhile, looked entirely at ease as he was introduced in front of Dallas media as the former Duke standout, who averaged 19.2 points and 7.5 rebounds while leading the Blue Devils to a Final Four, began his press conference.
He paid respect to the Mavericks‘ legends, Dirk Nowitzki and Luka Doncic, the latter of whom was traded in February to the Los Angeles Lakers, as he immediately sets about winning over the fans.
Flagg‘s selection comes as the franchise turns a new page, hopeful that the 6-foot-9 forward can usher in the next era of success alongside the likes of Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, and Anthony Davis.
“I’m coming in just trying to learn,” Flagg told reporters. “And trying to get better every single day.
“And I think if I can do that to the best of my ability, I think expectations and pressures that other people will put on me and our team, that will kind of work itself out.”
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