Caitlin Clark’s legacy in college basketball is solidified—even without a championship
Good morning, Broadsheet readers! A former executive accuses Accenture CEO Julie Sweet of discrimination, Serena Williams estimates her venture capital firm has invested in 14 unicorns, and Caitlin Clark changed women's college basketball, even without a championship. Have a great Monday!
- Game time. South Carolina and Iowa went head-to-head yesterday in the NCAA women's basketball final, and South Carolina's 87-75 victory sealed its undefeated season. It was a proud and redemptive moment for coach Dawn Staley and star players like Kamilla Cardoso a year after Iowa ended what had been South Carolina's perfect season.
This time around, millions more people tuned in throughout the teams' runs to the championship. That was thanks, in large part, to a player who didn't win yesterday: Caitlin Clark. The Iowa basketball phenom's electric sharpshooting and star power wasn't enough to clinch the championship, but she did change women's basketball forever.
Clark is expected to be No. 1 in the upcoming WNBA draft, and yesterday's final marked the end of her decorated college career. Before the championship, she said that she hopes her legacy is bigger than points scored or games won. "I hope it’s what I was able to do for the game of women’s basketball. I hope it is the young boys and young girls that are inspired to play this sport or dream to do whatever they want to do in their lives," she said.
That legacy is already here. The Iowa-UConn semifinal was watched by 14.2 million people—a record not just for women's college basketball, but for any basketball broadcast on ESPN. Three years ago, women's basketball players were treated as second-class players by the NCAA with vastly inferior weight rooms—a scandal that prompted some reflection in the sport. It's only been three years, too, since women's basketball was even officially allowed to use the "March Madness" moniker. So the significance of 14.2 million viewers—and Clark's role in getting those eyeballs on screens—can't be overstated.
South Carolina coach Staley took a moment in her celebratory speech to commend Clark and her impact on the sport. "I want to personally thank Caitlin Clark for lifting up our sport,” Staley said. “She carried a heavy load for our sport. It just is not going to stop here on a collegiate tour but when she is the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft, she’s going to lift that league up as well."
Emma Hinchliffe
emma.hinchliffe@fortune.com
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