WNBA, not solely Caitlin Clark, the 'real breakthrough star' of 2024, '60 Minutes' journalist claims

The full WNBA – not Caitlin Clark – was the breakout prima of the season, CBS "60 Minutes" writer Jon Wertheim said during Sunday night’s episode.

Wertheim broke down the emergence of the WNBA and spoke to the Rookie of the Year, Minnesota Lynx prima Napheesa Collier and WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert for the portion successful which helium called Clark "unquestionably the league’s main attraction, but not the lone one."

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Indiana Fever defender Caitlin Clark (22) reacts during the archetypal fractional against the Connecticut Sun during crippled 2 of the archetypal circular of the WNBA Playoffs astatine Mohegan Sun Arena connected Sept 25, 2024, successful Uncasville, Conn. (Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images)

"The existent breakthrough prima of this WNBA play is the W itself," Wertheim said. "Building disconnected a assemblage play successful which was unimaginable conscionable a fewer years ago, the women’s title crippled outdrew the men. W games tin gully much eyeballs than NBA games do.

"League wide, attendance is up 48%."

But it was Clark who acceptable the barroom this play and arguably enactment unneurotic the champion rookie play the WNBA has ever seen. Clark didn’t triumph the MVP and Rookie of the Year successful the aforesaid seasons similar Candace Parker did with the Los Angeles Sparks, but she rewrote the grounds books respective times.

Clark became the archetypal rookie successful WNBA past to person astatine slightest 25 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists successful a playoff crippled erstwhile she did it successful Game 2 of the playoff matchup against the Connecticut Sun. To beryllium fair, Wertheim interviewed Clark earlier the playoffs began.

Regardless, she was the archetypal rookie to grounds a triple-double erstwhile she played against the New York Liberty in July. She was besides the archetypal subordinate successful WNBA past to execute the feat against a squad that was successful archetypal spot successful the standings.

Indiana Fever defender Caitlin Clark rushes up the tribunal during the crippled astatine Gainbridge Fieldhouse successful Indianapolis connected Sept. 15, 2024. (Grace Hollars/IndyStar/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

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She acceptable a single-game grounds for assists erstwhile she enactment up 19 against the Dallas Wings. She acceptable the single-season grounds for assists with 337 successful full erstwhile the play ended.

Clark acceptable the rookie grounds for astir 3-pointers made successful a azygous play with 122 – the 2nd astir successful a azygous season. She was besides the archetypal subordinate successful WNBA past to person aggregate vocation games with astatine slightest 25 points, 10 assists and 5 3-pointers made.

Those records are lone the extremity of the iceberg, not to notation she was the unanimous AP WNBA Rookie of the Year.

In presumption of ratings, Clark and the Fever were must-watch TV.

Indiana Fever defender Caitlin Clark reacts aft a three-point handbasket against the Minnesota Lynx successful the archetypal fractional successful Indianapolis connected Sept. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

FOX Sports’ Michael Mulvihill underscored that constituent with statistic this month. He wrote connected X that Caitlin Clark games drew successful 1.178 cardinal portion each different games drew successful 394,000, a 199% difference.

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The breakout prima is clear, and she averaged 19.2 points, 8.4 assists and 5.7 rebounds per crippled and finished 4th successful MVP voting.

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