Just weeks after Caitlin Clark was drafted by the Indiana Fever in the WNBA Draft, the visibility of the league has surged, largely due to the former Iowa Hawkeyes standout.
The WNBA is keen to capitalize on Clark’s star power, promoting her as a key figure in their branding efforts. As Clark transitions into the league, the WNBA is exploring new ways to expand its fan base. This has led to various suggestions from basketball analysts on how to enhance the league’s appeal.
During a discussion on Bill Simmons’ podcast with NBA reporter Ethan Sherwood Strauss, the topic of WNBA growth strategies was broached. Strauss proposed aligning WNBA team names with their NBA counterparts, similar to practices in college and European sports. He argued that sharing names would simplify branding and attract NBA fans to the WNBA, though the idea received mixed reactions.
“Why not just have the W Pacers?” Strauss suggested on the podcast. “It could make it easier for the teams to resonate and appeal broadly.”
RELATED: Caitlin Clark Allegedly Responds To NFL Rookie Who Believes He Can Beat Her in Game of 1-On-1
The response on social media was varied, with people expressing both support and skepticism about the idea.
Simmons responded to the suggestion by drawing a parallel to college sports, mentioning teams like the “Lady Gamecocks” in college athletics.
In related news, Indianapolis Star writer Gregg Doyel faced repercussions after a controversial interaction with Caitlin Clark during her introductory press conference. Doyel was suspended and barred from covering Indiana Fever games for the season after commenting awkwardly on Clark’s heart-shaped hand gesture, which she explained was meant for her family.
Doyel’s suspension entails that he will cover the Fever remotely for two weeks, following his inappropriate comments during the press conference.
