(GoRealNewsNow.com) – Solidifying her status as a true American sports icon, Iowa basketball sensation Caitlin Clark has been named AP Female Athlete of the Year.
Her remarkable achievements on the court have not only shattered records but have also sparked a surge of interest in women’s sports.
Clark’s impact on women’s basketball has been nothing short of revolutionary.
She led the University of Iowa to the national championship game and was then selected as the top pick in the WNBA draft.
Her performances have consistently attracted sold-out arenas and millions of television viewers, proving that there is indeed a massive appetite for women’s sports.
The numbers do not lie. Clark received an overwhelming 35 votes for the AP Female Athlete of the Year award, leaving Olympic gymnast Simone Biles and boxer Imane Khelif in the dust.
This recognition places her in an elite group, as she becomes only the fourth women’s basketball player to receive this honor since 1931.
Clark’s prowess on the court is undeniable. She shattered the NCAA Division I career scoring record with an astounding 3,951 points.
In her rookie WNBA season, she averaged 19.2 points, 8.4 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game, leading the Indiana Fever to their first playoff appearance since 2016.
“I grew up a fan of Candace Parker and the people who came before me and to be honored in this way, is super special and I’m thankful,” Clark said.
But her on-court performance is not the only thing turning heads. Clark’s impact on viewership has been nothing short of phenomenal.
During her rookie season, WNBA viewership skyrocketed by 300% and she played in 20 of the 23 WNBA games that drew over 1 million viewers.
The 2024 WNBA draft, where Clark was the star attraction, pulled in a record 2.4 million viewers.
Perhaps most impressively, the NCAA women’s championship game featuring Clark outdrew the men’s game for the first time in history, attracting a staggering 18.9 million viewers.
Clark’s success story is a testament to the power of merit and hard work in sports. She has managed to maintain a positive public image despite facing online toxicity.
“I would say she’s navigated it almost flawlessly. She hasn’t had any big missteps or misspeaks at a time you’re under constant scrutiny,” stated 1995 AP Athlete of the Year Rebecca Lobo.
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