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Caitlin Clark performed a significant position in attracting vital viewership for the WNBA within the current previous. Nevertheless, even in her absence, Recreation 1 of the 2024 WNBA Finals between the Connecticut Solar and Minnesota Lynx broke the report for many viewers since 1998 Finals Recreation 1 (1.14 million). This prompted Sue Chook to name out ESPN analysts Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe for undermining the WNBA’s success after Clark’s exit.
She argued that despite the fact that the viewership numbers have fallen a bit, they’re nonetheless at an all-time excessive because the WNBA semi-finals. SAS had a seething response to Chook on his eponymous present.
He conveyed that he was merely doing his job as a journalist, declaring the decline in WNBA viewership since Clark’s season resulted in late September utilizing the accessible knowledge. He argued that the rise within the viewership in the course of the subsequent rounds has additionally been a results of CC bringing in new followers, and a few of them have stayed for the complete journey.
Moreover, the 56-year-old couldn’t perceive why some WNBA superstars needed to tear down Clark’s title. He recalled how Larry Chook and Magic Johnson acknowledged Michael Jordan’s contributions in elevating the NBA, regardless of him changing them because the face of the league in the course of the late Nineteen Eighties.
“Magic Johnson did nice issues for the NBA, Larry Chook did nice nice issues for the NBA however when that brother Michael Jordan got here alongside, they stood down, not on the basketball court docket competing in opposition to him however no one complained in regards to the shine he acquired. One purpose was as a result of they knew he deserved it.”
As an alternative of bringing down his title, they let him bask within the limelight. As per Stephen A. Smith, WNBA greats ought to observe swimsuit too. SAS argued,
“You realize what the opposite purpose was, it constructed the profile of the NBA and made the rankings blow up and took it off the tape delay and put it on prime time tv. If the women, which means all of you collectively grasp that idea absolutely, devoid of resentment, you too share the reap the advantages of any individual like Caitlin Clark coming alongside and anyone with an identical influence who follows swimsuit.”
SAS was irritated that Chook was questioning his journalistic integrity. He maintained that he has tried his finest to cowl the Caitlin Clark story in essentially the most goal potential approach. Thus, for him, Chook’s swipe was pointless.
What did Sue Chook say?
On the October 9 episode of her “Contact Me Extra” pod, Sue Chook and co-host Megan Rapinoe complained about Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe utilizing WNBA viewership numbers in a deceptive method.
Chook acknowledged Clark’s contributions in bringing a significant viewers but additionally needed different WNBA superstars to get their dues. She couldn’t fathom why SAS and Sharpe, each working for ESPN, would attempt to create a story in opposition to gamers not named Caitlin Clark, particularly when the community broadcasts their video games. She opined,
“Within the WNBA [Semifinals]… the place Caitlin clearly just isn’t in it trigger her workforce misplaced, are nonetheless breaking information from earlier WNBA years. So these numbers are nonetheless actually excessive, and so they’re nonetheless actually significant. And but some individuals proceed to flip that… I’ve seen Stephen A. Smith speak about it, I’ve seen Shannon Sharpe speak about it. And what I don’t perceive is, they work for ESPN. So why are you hating on a [business] ESPN is in?”
Thus, Caitlin Clark has been an enormous matter on ESPN regardless of the continued WNBA playoffs and the upcoming NBA common season. CC has certainly introduced mainstream consideration to the WNBA, however some greats search recognition for your complete expertise pool.
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