The Real Caitlin Clark Effect

Mar 8

Caitlin Clark has changed the landscape of college basketball, particularly for women’s college basketball, in so many ways. Like a traveling circus, she has attracted fans from all corners of the Earth to witness the greatest show on hardwood. She has single-handedly increased ticket prices and performed in sold out gyms to anyone wanting to catch a glimpse of her.

We are mesmerized by her talent. She’s good. She’s strong. She’s magic. She knows who she is and what she’s doing. She’s confident, but not cocky. She’s honest, but doesn’t point the finger of blame. The seismic shift of what she is doing for women’s basketball can be compared to the influence that the ‘99 Women’s World Cup Champions had on women’s soccer.

Young girls look up to her in awe. In Caitlin, they can see themselves. They can dream, but no longer have to wonder if it’s possible, because they know it is. They can see Caitlin in the flesh. They can wear her jersey. They can pretend to be Caitlin in their driveway, with time winding down, throwing up a seemingly impossible shot to win the championship game. And for this mom of two girls, seeing yet another strong, positive female role model makes me smile.

But her influence doesn’t stop with my girls.

A few nights ago, I was playing Uno with my 8-year-old son, and a commercial with Caitlin Clark came on the tv in the background. My son looked at me and asked, “Will Caitlin Clark play in the NBA?”

Me: “No, she will play in the WNBA.”

Son: “Will she play against the Lakers and the Pacers?”

Me: “No, it’s a different league, just like the NBA, but for women only.”

Son: “Well she’s the best player in college basketball and she should play for the Lakers.”

She’s the best player in college basketball.

Not the best player in women’s college basketball; the best player in college basketball.

It was at that moment that I took off MY blinders and saw Caitlin Clark’s influence through my son’s eyes. He was seeing her as a really good basketball player, and as an equal to Lebron. I wanted so badly to see Caitlin Clark as an influence for my girls, that I subconsciously limited her reach to just young girls. I had picked a side and put her in a box, and limited her influence.

But me and you do this all the time, don’t we? Subconsciously or overtly, we ask: Are you for or against? Are you in or out? Do you agree or not agree? Whose side are you on?? Who should Caitlin influence??

Answer: Everyone. If my daughter can imagine she is Kobe outside shooting hoops, then my son can imagine he is Caitlin.

When we put blinders on and put each other into boxes, we limit beliefs, which limits reach, which limits influence.

Maybe some of you are thinking, we’ve catered enough to boys. They have enough role models to look up to. Just let Caitlin be a role model for young girls. Pick a side.

But, the truth of the matter is, we need my son to experience her as a role model so that he grows up experiencing females in the same and equal light as males; so that he grows up to be an advocate for equality; so that he grows up to fight for those who don’t look like him; so that he steps out of his box and invites others to do the same.

If we want to continue to see sellout crowds in women’s sports, we need to invite everyone in. If we want to see less division and more support for each other, we need to allow the “other side” into our homes, lives, thoughts, and conversations.

We may not always agree, and that’s ok, but if we want the best for everyone, and we want equality for everyone, we need our girls AND boys to see Caitlin Clark for the superstar and Leader she is. We need everyone to imagine Caitlin Clark in a Lakers jersey playing on the same court as Lebron and Kobe.

Caitlin Clark is a Leader, and leadership is influence, and influence certainly has no limits.

Caitlin Clark’s influence in more than just basketball.

That is the Real Caitlin Clark Effect.