The NBA is brimming with young talent that promises to carry the league into the future. Rising stars like Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum, and Anthony Edwards are already making waves, but Bill Simmons believes there is one athlete whose star shines brighter than all of them: Caitlin Clark.
According to Simmons, the young phenom from the WNBA has captured the attention of sports fans in a way that no NBA player under 30 has managed to do.
Caitlin Clark has taken the sports world by storm over the past year, becoming a household name thanks to her incredible skills on the court and her undeniable charisma. After a historic senior season at Iowa, where she shattered records and led her team to back-to-back National Championship appearances, Clark entered the WNBA with sky-high expectations—and she delivered.
In her rookie season, Clark made the All-WNBA First Team, finished fourth in the MVP voting, and was named Rookie of the Year. She led the Indiana Fever to the playoffs, averaging 19.2 points and a league-leading 8.4 assists per game, showcasing her ability to score and facilitate at the highest level.
In the process, Clark has become one of the most famous athletes in the world, transcending not only women’s basketball but sports in general. At just 22 years old, her star power has arguably eclipsed that of her contemporaries in the NBA, and it’s a phenomenon that hasn’t gone unnoticed by sports commentators and analysts.
In the latest episode of his podcast, Bill Simmons discussed Clark’s rising popularity with author Chuck Klosterman. Simmons posed an intriguing question: Does Caitlin Clark have more star power than any NBA player under 30 years old? Klosterman instantly agreed, and Simmons backed up the claim, stating, “I don’t even think that’s a debate.”
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Both men acknowledged that Clark’s influence has been transformative, not only for women’s basketball but for the sports world at large.
“Her stardom, in a way, it has changed many conversations about sports,” Klosterman said during the discussion. “Especially women’s sports.” Clark’s rise to fame has sparked renewed interest in women’s basketball, elevating the WNBA to new heights and drawing in fans who may have previously overlooked the league.
Simmons admitted that he himself is paying far more attention to women’s basketball now, and he’s not alone—rising attendance figures and increased television ratings indicate that many others are also taking notice.
“I literally did not care about women’s college basketball 10 years ago in any way, shape, or form,” Simmons confessed. “So I think some things have moved toward, just the quality of play is more fun to watch. She seems to be some sort of catalyst that is like before or after, and now we’re in the after.” Clark’s impact, Simmons suggested, marks a significant turning point for women’s sports—a “before and after” moment that has changed how people perceive and engage with women’s basketball.
Klosterman added that the nature of college sports has allowed Clark to build a strong fanbase that male athletes often lack. “It’s more plausible for a woman to gain popularity in college than a man,” Klosterman observed.
While many top male players leave college after just one year—or skip it altogether to play professionally overseas—Clark spent four years at Iowa, becoming the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer and leading her team to two consecutive National Championship Games. This extended college career allowed fans to develop a deeper connection with Clark and truly appreciate her game.
Simmons agreed, noting, “You have this history with these women’s players in college for three years. You kind of have a sense of their game. So when they come in the WNBA, you know what they can do.” This continuity has allowed Clark to carry her college fanbase into the WNBA, where she has continued to excel and captivate audiences.
While the discussion specifically focused on NBA players under 30, it naturally excluded some of the league’s biggest names, such as LeBron James and Stephen Curry, who are both over 30 and have established themselves as global icons.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, who turns 30 next week, and Nikola Jokic, who will celebrate his 30th birthday in February, were also excluded from the comparison.
However, Simmons and Klosterman suggested that even among the younger crop of NBA stars, no one has made quite the same cultural impact as Clark.
Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum, Anthony Edwards, and Victor Wembanyama are among the brightest young stars in the NBA, each with their own unique talents and appeal. But despite their on-court success, none of them have yet achieved the same level of widespread recognition and influence as Caitlin Clark.
Her ability to connect with fans, both on and off the court, has propelled her to a level of stardom that goes beyond basketball—a phenomenon that Simmons believes is unmatched by any player currently in the NBA under the age of 30.
Clark’s journey from college standout to WNBA star has been nothing short of remarkable, and her influence continues to grow. She has become a symbol of the growth and potential of women’s sports, inspiring a new generation of athletes and drawing more eyes to the game.
Whether through her electrifying performances, her leadership on the court, or her magnetic personality, Caitlin Clark is redefining what it means to be a superstar, and in doing so, she has positioned herself as one of the most compelling figures in all of sports today.
