Caitlin Clark received the AP Female Athlete of the Year award, adding another accomplishment to her impressive career. This recognition comes after a remarkable final college season and impactful rookie year in the WNBA.
Rebecca Lobo, an ESPN analyst and former recipient of the AP Female Athlete of the Year award in 1995, praised Clark for bringing unprecedented attention to women’s basketball.
“She’s brought unprecedented attention both in the building, but also viewership to the sport that was worthy of it but didn’t have it yet,” Lobo said (per Associated Press). “There’s never been anything like this.”
The WNBA saw its highest total attendance in 22 years, with a 48% increase from the previous season, as reported by AP. Clark’s Indiana Fever also set a WNBA record with an average home game attendance of 17,035.
Lobo also highlighted Caitlin Clark’s ability to handle the intense pressure and spotlight.
“I would say she’s navigated it almost flawlessly. She hasn’t had any big missteps or misspeaks at a time when you’re under constant scrutiny,” Lobo said.
“She’s seemed to say and do all the right things. That’s just incredible at a time when it’s constant attention and scrutiny. She has not done anything to tarnish this sort of mild persona she has.”
Caitlin Clark’s college coach confident in her growth under Stephanie White
Following the departure of Christie Sides, the Indiana Fever appointed hometown legend Stephanie White as their new head coach.
White, who began her WNBA career in 1999 with the Fever after playing for the Charlotte Sting, transitioned into coaching after five seasons as a player. She served as an assistant coach (2011–2014) before becoming the head coach (2015–2016), helping the team win the 2012 WNBA championship and reach the Finals in 2015.
Lisa Bluder, Caitlin Clark’s college coach who retired in May, expressed her confidence in Clark’s development under White’s tutelage.
“I think Stephanie, as a pro coach, probably saw her more than anybody because she was also doing television and she had a lot of our games,” Bluder told CBS Sports. “And I think she respected Caitlin more than the other coaches who hadn’t been around her as much.”
“Caitlin always told me that she thought Coach White defended her better than anybody else in the pros. I know that Caitlin has great respect for Stephanie White and I just think that, knowing both of their personalities, that they’re going to mesh really well.”
With Caitlin Clark, the Indiana Fever ended an eight-year playoff drought in 2024. However, their season concluded in the first round against White’s former team, the Connecticut Sun.
Edited by John Ezekiel Hirro
