Caitlin Clark was at the University of Cumberlands on Tuesday. The Indiana Fever star was invited to be the school’s keynote speaker for its annual Excellence in Leadership event.
Per the university’s web page, the school invites speakers who can send “impactful messages” to students and to the community at large. Shaquille O’Neal, Drew Brees, and Laila Ali were among its past guests.
The university’s official X account shared a clip of Clark’s interview inside the standing-room-only O. Wayne Rollins Center. In the clip, Clark talked about how she engages with fans as a public figure.
“That’s what’s unique about sports. People see a few hours of your craft and not the rest. It’s hard for them to remember that we’re human too, and that’s really challenging,” said the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year.
“That’s what’s unique about sports. People see a few hours of your craft and not the rest. It’s hard for them to remember that we’re human too, and that’s really challenging.”-Clark pic.twitter.com/GHaNG2iq9D
— University of the Cumberlands (@UCumberlands) March 25, 2025
Caitlin Clark has proven to be one of the most popular women’s basketball players today. She has been the headliner in many college and WNBA games with record-setting viewership numbers. In some road games where she played with the Fever, the audiences seemed like a home crowd for Clark and her teammates due to her supporters also coming to watch.
While many have shown their support and admiration for Clark’s accomplishments, some have also tried to dismiss her, which is why she decided to stay away from public scrutiny in the offseason, declining the opportunity to play in the Unrivaled basketball league. Instead, she chose to quietly work on her game away from prying eyes.
Indiana Fever’s 41 nationally televised games emphasize Caitlin Clark’s popularity
Last year, the Indiana Fever played 36 of its 40 regular-season games on national television. Caitlin Clark, who was still a rookie during that time, put the Fever back in the limelight, helping the franchise get back into the playoffs for the first time since 2016. The move paid dividends for the WNBA, which saw its viewership ratings rise.
This year, the league has decided to double down by putting Clark in front of a national audience, televising 41 of the games she will play.
Caitlin Clark will have more nationally televised games this season than the top viewed NBA teams 🤯
Fever – (41 games)
Lakers – (39 games)
Warriors – (36 games)
Celtics/Knicks – (34 games)
Mavericks – (30 games)The Caitlin Clark effect has risen to another level. (h/t… pic.twitter.com/RBT9oWoObz
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) March 21, 2025
Meanwhile, the defending champions New York liberty, led by Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionesu, will appear in only 33 televised games. 2024 Finals runners-up Napheesa Collier and the Minnesota Lynx will have 21 nationally televised games.
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