{"id":503808,"date":"2026-03-04T20:00:07","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T20:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/503808\/"},"modified":"2026-03-04T20:00:07","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T20:00:07","slug":"2x-super-bowl-champion-makes-bold-statement-on-caitlin-clarks-influence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/503808\/","title":{"rendered":"2x Super Bowl champion makes bold statement on Caitlin Clark’s influence"},"content":{"rendered":"

Caitlin Clark continues to be one of the most popular athletes in major American professional leagues. The WNBA star became a sensation during her time with the Iowa Hawkeyes in college. She set multiple records with the Hawkeyes, becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft. <\/p>\n

Despite playing only 13 games in the 2025 WNBA season, Clark remained the driving force behind the league\u2019s renewed popularity. Controversy still followed her, but Clark learned how to navigate through it again. Many started measuring her impact not only on women\u2019s basketball but on the entire world of sports.<\/p>\n

MORE: Caitlin Clark, Eileen Gu link up at Prada Milan Fashion Week Show<\/a><\/p>\n

During Tuesday\u2019s edition of \u201cSpeakeasy,\u201d two-time Super Bowl champion LeSean McCoy said that Clark might be the most influential women\u2019s athlete in history, even over tennis GOAT Serena Williams.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s like top three, might be two. No, she is one. She\u2019s the most influential women\u2019s athlete of all time,\u201d McCoy said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think Serena Williams was great. But who was watching women\u2019s basketball? You weren\u2019t. I wasn\u2019t\u2026 Then we get this girl like Steph Curry and everybody watches it, to this day. Women\u2019s basketball is looked at like the NBA, like the NFL. They\u2019ve got their own channels now on ESPN. When was the last time you heard people talking about women\u2019s basketball on TV? Now they\u2019re going to talk about Luka, and they\u2019re going to talk about Caitlin Clark.\u201d<\/p>\n

McCoy added that Clark didn\u2019t join an iconic program in college. Instead, she built Iowa during her four-year tenure.<\/p>\n

MORE: ESPN executive compares Caitlin Clark to a drug<\/a><\/p>\n

Caitlin Clark dealt with multiple injuries in 2025 WNBA season<\/p>\n

\"\"Jul 9, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) dribbles the ball in the first half against Golden State Valkyries at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Caitlin Clark had an injury-filled 2025 WNBA season with the Indiana Fever. She battled a left quad strain, a left groin injury and a right groin issue that limited her to 13 games. Clark\u2019s team still went all the way to the WNBA playoffs semis, where the eventual champions Las Vegas Aces took them out in five games.<\/p>\n

The Fever superstar averaged 16.5 points, 8.8 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 13 games.<\/p>\n

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