Caitlin Clark’s college career ended Sunday with a loss to South Carolina in the national championship game. But the Iowa State star’s popularity won’t fade away.
“I know what’s going to happen next,” she said.
Eight days to be exact.
Clark will then head to New York for the WNBA draft, where she is expected to be the No. 1 pick by the Indiana Fever. After emerging in her college career, there are already signs that she will make an impact in the pros.
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What you need to know about the WNBA Draft
The audition will be held on April 15 at 7:30 pm ET at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York. The draft will be broadcast on ESPN and will also be broadcast live on Fubo.
Here is the order of the first round of the draft:
1. Indiana Fever
2. Los Angeles Sparks
3. Chicago Sky (via Phoenix)
4. Los Angeles Sparks (via Seattle)
5. Dallas Wings (via Chicago)
6. Washington Mystics
7. Minnesota Lynx
8. Chicago Sky (via Atlanta)
9. Dallas Wings
10. Connecticut Sun
11. New York Liberty
12. Atlanta Dream (via Las Vegas)
What impact will Clark have in the WNBA?
Let’s start on the court. Of course, Clark has to work harder to shoot. (Don’t think these veterans won’t do everything they can to stop her.) But her seemingly unlimited range and amazing accuracy can still make her difficult to defend. Her death can have an immediate impact.
She was already one of the best passers in college history, finishing her career with a Division I record 1,144 assists. Clark’s teammates at Iowa State weren’t always good at converting her passes in the post. Now imagine what 2023 Rookie of the Year Aliyah Boston will do with Clark’s sharp passing.
When it comes to marketing and star power, the WNBA better be prepared. Fanatics have seen a surge in ticket sales and the Las Vegas Aces have announced a move to a larger arena to accommodate more fans when she comes to town. Last season, the Fever had the second-lowest attendance in the league behind Atlanta, which played in a much larger arena and averaged 85% attendance. The Fever may become one of the most popular fan destinations.
Similar to her experience at Iowa State, the number of frenetic road games should be record-setting. The Hawkeyes have sold out all but two of their games this season at home, away or in the playoffs. Her fans aren’t going anywhere.
Will I lose money by going to the WNBA?
This claim has been debunked many times, but still persists among those who do not consider the power of her endorsement. Clark has the most high-profile endorsement deal of any college basketball player. (You’ve seen the State Farm commercials, right?) These aren’t going away, and expect her to receive a lucrative sneaker deal.
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Caitlin Clark’s business is booming.Here are her sponsorships with the WNBA
As the presumptive No. 1 pick, she will receive $76,535 guaranteed in her first season. (She is not taking a salary at Iowa.) If she chooses not to play overseas next WNBA offseason, she could also earn up to $250,000 through a league marketing agreement and up to $10 through a team marketing deal. million dollars in revenue. If she does go abroad, she can look forward to lucrative contracts from European or Chinese teams.
But with her marketing skills, she’ll likely sign more endorsement deals.
Will Clark have to turn pro?
Won’t. Like other seniors, Clark received an extra season of NCAA eligibility due to the impact of the epidemic. On Feb. 29, she announced she would not return to Iowa City and upped the ante on a strong outing in the tournament.
Who else will be in the draft?
Look for Athletic team The postgame mock draft is coming in a few days. But other potential stars are also expected to hear their names called.
South Carolina’s Camila Cardoso, Stanford’s Cameron Brink and Tennessee’s Rickey Jackson are expected to be early choices. LSU’s Angel Reese is projected to be drafted around No. 8 overall.
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WNBA mock draft: Where will Angel Reese land? Who will be drafted after Caitlin Clark?
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(Photo: Stephen Chambers/Getty Images)
