Caitlin Clark has altered the perception of women’s basketball in the United States. Her explosion onto the scene in 2023 has set the stage for future prosperity in NCAA women’s basketball and in the WNBA, where more and more fans are getting to know the rapidly-expanding league.
Clark has not done all of this singlehandedly, but her playing style and her down-to-earth nature has made her a relatable and even heroic figure for fans of all ages. After setting the NCAA record for points scored in a career, Clark moved on to the WNBA — where, in her first season with the Indiana Fever, she ended the franchise’s playoff drought and was named the league’s Rookie of the Year. With her second season starting in May, Clark is ready to level up and meet championship expectations that are beginning to form in Indiana.
Cheryl Miller applauds Clark for standing up to the haters
Iconic player and coach Cheryl Miller recently appeared on the “All the Smoke” podcast, where she was able to reflect on Clark’s rookie season and the challenges to come — although a recent viral photo shows a more-muscular Clark, the guard in a better position to fight through contact in year two relative to year one.
Miller never had the chance to play in the WNBA after a historic career at USC, but she coached one of the league’s legacy franchises, the Phoenix Mercury, after its 1997 inception. At last year’s WNBA All-Star Game, Miller coached Clark on the “WNBA” team against the eventual gold medal-winning US Olympic team — and she saw, firsthand, the talent and personality that make Clark who she is.
“I can relate to that young lady, and I felt for her. I know what it’s like to be hated,” Miller explained. “To watch the dynamics and the media, they had their narrative. And I was pleased and proud to see that the narrative wasn’t the truth.”
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