Although her career is just getting started, Caitlin Clark is already being mentioned in debates for the most influential athlete of all time.
Clark, the No. 1 pick from the 2024 WNBA Draft, is widely considered the most influential women's basketball player of her generation. To be fair, she was named TIME’s Athlete of the Year when she was just 22 years old. She has also captured every important award at the collegiate level, including the John R. Wooden Award and Naismith College Player of the Year.
Former NFL players Emmanuel Acho and LeSean McCoy brought up Clark during a recent discussion about the most influential athletes in sports. McCoy made a strong claim on the latest episode of their "Speakeasy" podcast that is destined to spark a debate online.
"She's like top three, might be two," McCoy said, via OutKick. "No, she is one. She’s the most influential women’s athlete of all time."
Jeff Haynes/Getty Images
Is this a fair claim about Clark?
Clark, a two-time All-Star, still has a long way to go before she's considered the best WNBA player of all time. Make no mistake though, injuries might be the only thing holding her back.
If we broaden the spectrum, it might be tough to rank Clark ahead of athletes such as Simone Biles and Serena Williams - especially if you only consider career accomplishments.
That being said, Clark has generated so much buzz around the WNBA. Her impact on the sport and its watchability is simply undeniable.
