Caitlin Clark, Chiney Ogwumike (Image source Getty Images)
Chiney Ogwumike, an NBA analyst for ESPN, praised Caitlin Clark for her WNBA regular-season debut against the Connecticut Sun on a recent episode of the show “Get Up” on ESPN. Clark, a current fan-favorite player, scored 20 points, had three assists, and committed ten turnovers in her debut game. Ogwumike mentioned that Clark had the hardest and the worst matchup for her debut in the WNBA. She also highlighted Clark’s relentlessness, fortitude, and learning during her debut game.
“Let’s remind everybody that it is a month since she was playing for IOWA. She had the ball in her hands and was going to make mistakes because she was an unselfish player. This is not surprising, considering she is going up against the Connecticut Sun. I played with those ladies. Alyssa Thomas is a bad woman. This was the hardest, probably the worst matchup to open the gates with, but we saw her relentlessness, her fortitude to keep going, and her learning.” Chiney Ogwumike said.
Stephen A. Smith defended Caitlin Clark after her first game
During a recent episode of the show “First Take,” the host Stephen A. Smith praised Clark for her debut. He mentioned that he was not bothered by the ten turnovers and highlighted that it was Clark’s first professional game. He also highlighted her ability to shoot 3-pointers from any position on the court.
“I don’t give a damn about the ten turnovers… It’s her first professional game… I’m looking for a sniper-like mentality. She can shoot threes from all over the place.” Smith said.
Caitlin Clark’s debut in the WNBA against the Sun attracted an average of 2.12 million viewers, marking the highest viewership for a game in the league in 23 years. Clark, who is the current fan-favorite player in the WNBA, has the potential to bring excitement to the league. Despite gaining a large number of viewers, the record of 5.04 million viewers from 1997 still stands.
Caitlin Clark’s successful debut and the increased viewership indicate a potentially significant expansion for the league, marking a turning point for the WNBA. Clark will be back in action at Gainbridge Fieldhouse during Thursday’s game against New York Liberty.
