{"id":480781,"date":"2026-02-20T23:29:08","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T23:29:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/480781\/"},"modified":"2026-02-20T23:29:08","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T23:29:08","slug":"jeff-teague-rejects-nick-wrights-claim-that-wnba-star-is-more-popular-than-victor-wembanyama","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/480781\/","title":{"rendered":"Jeff Teague Rejects Nick Wright\u2019s Claim That WNBA Star Is More Popular Than Victor Wembanyama\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark<\/a> is by far the most popular player in the WNBA. Her endorsement deals, fanfare and other things say so. The former Iowa Hawkeyes legend has a huge following, one so big that it has Fox Sports analyst Nick Wright believing that she is actually more popular than many NBA players.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Jeff Teague Dispute\u2019s Magnitude Of Cailtin Clark\u2019s Globa Appeal <\/p>\n

Former NBA player Jeff Teague<\/a> isn\u2019t buying Wright\u2019s assessment and definitely had a rebuttal.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Jeff Teague says he doesn\u2019t believe that Caitlin Clark is more famous than Wemby, Tatum, and similar NBA stars when it comes to overall public recognition, but he believes that if she released her own signature shoe, it would outsell theirs.” pic.twitter.com\/wmwgbZn80Y<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 joebuddenclips\/fanpage (@chatnigga101) February 19, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Speaking this week on his \u201cClub 520 Podcast,\u201d the former NBA champion Teague said, \u201cCaitlin Clark\u2019s big in the States. Wemby big everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

He then referenced seeing Clark at an event once and says it took a bit for him to even recognize her.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen she was behind the bench at Pike I didn\u2019t even recognize her. I didn\u2019t know it was her until she was at the door,\u201d Teague recalled.<\/p>\n

Teague Says Caitlin Clark Signature Shoe Will Outsell NBA Players <\/p>\n

Teague did mention that he believes if she released a signature shoe that it would outsell those of NBA players, but in his eyes that doesn\u2019t make her more popular.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Nick Wright Is High On Clark<\/p>\n

Speaking on his show \u201cWhat\u2019s Wright,\u201d the very opinionated shock jock analyst stirred the pot earlier in the week with his comparison of Clark to NBA players.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe single most famous basketball player under the age of 35 is Caitlin Clark. The three most famous basketball players right now are 41-year-old LeBron James and then 37, 38-year-old, Steph and KD [Durant],\u201d Wright said.<\/p>\n

RELATED: \u2018$100M Contract For Caitlin Clark To Be Headliner\u2019: Tech-Backed Basketball League Preparing To Give\u00a0WNBA A Run For It\u2019s Money<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cAnthony Edwards, Luka [Don\u010di\u0107], [Nikola] Joki\u0107, Giannis [Antetokounmpo], those guys have not ascended to that level, and that is the major issue facing the league that they don\u2019t right now have a solve to, and they\u2019re hoping [Wembanyama] will solve it,\u201d Wright said.<\/p>\n

Clark Is WNBA\u2019s Cash Cow\u00a0<\/p>\n

While many will dispute it, Clark is the driving force behind a dramatic rise in popularity and visibility the WNBA is experiencing, and its players are aiming for in their new Collective Bargaining Agreement.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And yes others like A\u2019ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier, Angel Reese and many, many more have all played a role in the league\u2019s rise, it\u2019s Clark who\u2019s been the driving force behind the record-breaking viewership, increased attendance and merchandise sales.<\/p>\n

Fans Chime In Via X<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s not even the most famous women\u2019s basketball player but yall confuse fame with popularity,\u201d one fan said.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly for white America is she popular,\u201d another fan said.<\/p>\n

\u201cNobody cares about CC anymore. Her time came and went,\u201d another fan quipped.<\/p>\n

\u201cAja Wilson, then CC. Don\u2019t disagree with the argument, though,\u201d a fan mentioned.<\/p>\n

Clark Looking For Bounce Back Season<\/p>\n

After winning WNBA Rookie of the Year, and finishing fourth in MVP as a rookie, Clark managed to play in just 13 games due to multiple lower-body injuries during her second season.\u00a0<\/p>\n

RELATED: \u2018Yelling At The Ref\u2019: Kelsey Plum and Paige Bueckers Exploited Caitlin Clark\u2019s Defense At Team USA Training, But She\u2019s \u2018Still Ramping Up Injury Wise\u2019\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

As she enters her third season, she\u2019ll be looking to get back into form and join a Fever team that was a surprising overtime loss away from the WNBA Finals last season.\u00a0<\/p>\n