Since Caitlin Clark made her debut in the WNBA a couple of weeks ago, I’ve heard several sports analysts complain that her team, the Indiana Fever, has lost more games than it has won. To rebut those claims, I step into the shoes of my alter ego, Mr. Perspective, and offer a simple explanation.
The team that picks first in any sports draft is the one that had the worst record in the prior season, and the addition of one player — as good as Clark is — rarely changes a franchise’s fortunes immediately.
Just look back at the Chicago Bulls’ record when Michael Jordan joined the team as a rookie in 1984. While they did win a few more games with him than the year before, they still finished below .500 with a record of 38-44. Even after that, it took six more seasons before they won the NBA title in 1991 (and 1992 and 1993).
So maybe you should wait a few months before judging Caitlin’s impact on the WNBA.
On the other hand, we already know what her presence has meant for the entire league. So many more people want to see her in action and are showing up for Fever games, both home and away. In fact, other teams are moving games against Indiana from their regular venues to larger arenas to accommodate the overwhelming number of fans who want to witness a true sports phenomenon.
And don’t discount the positive effect she’s having on the image of women’s sports for young girls — and boys.