LeBron James believes Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark will achieve “great things” for the WNBA.
“The thing I love that she’s bringing to her sport: More people want to watch. More people want to tune in,” James said on the Mind the Game podcast he co-hosts with JJ Redick. “Don’t get it twisted, don’t get it f–ked up. Caitlin Clark is the reason why a lot of great things are gonna happen for the WNBA.
“… I’m rooting for Caitlin because I’ve been in that seat before. I’ve walked that road before. I hope she kills.”
Clark, the all-time leading scorer in college basketball, is averaging 17.0 points and 5.5 assists through four games for the Fever.
James compared his own highly anticipated 2003 NBA debut with the Cleveland Cavaliers to Clark’s WNBA arrival, which has increased interest in Fever game attendance on the road.
When Clark debuted at Barclays Center on Saturday, the New York Liberty sold out the 17,735-seat arena and set a league-record $2 million in ticket revenue, Doug Feinberg reported for the Associated Press.
Her debut against the Connecticut Sun led to their first home opener sellout since 2003, according to ESPN.
The WNBA is betting on Clark to continue drawing viewers to Fever games. Indiana was selected for 36 national TV games due to the expectation they would draft the former Iowa star.
Despite the Fever’s 0-4 start, Clark is averaging 6.5 turnovers per game and shooting 34.3 percent from deep, drawing criticism for her adjustment to the WNBA.
James compared Clark’s critics to those doubting his son, Bronny James, who entered the 2024 NBA draft after recovering from heart surgery to play 25 games at USC.
“There’s a very small number of men and women that actually get to live out their dream of playing a professional sport, and we have grown-ass men and women out here doing whatever they can to try to make sure that does not happen. That is the weirdest thing in the world,” James said. “But it is what it is, and I’m glad that Caitlin has a great head on her shoulders.”
Clark and the Fever will seek their first win of the season Wednesday night against the Seattle Storm. Tipoff is at 10 p.m. ET.
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