FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis discussed the significant influence of Caitlin Clark and other emerging players on the growth and visibility of women's basketball during a press conference prior to the World Cup Final against France. He described Clark as one of the brightest stars of her generation and expressed optimism that the popularity of female basketball players could rival or exceed that of male players by the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
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Zagklis praised the contributions of Clark and her peers, stating, "What these players, Caitlin, one of them, have done in increasing the popularity of the women's game is incredible. We should feel very proud about them.” He emphasized FIBA's support for the promotional efforts of USA Basketball and national federations, noting that players recognized this moment as significant.
While he could not provide specific statistics on the game's growth, Zagklis highlighted the broader impact of players like Clark and Iyana Martin from Spain, the 2023 U-19 MVP, who recently secured a substantial sponsorship deal just before the tournament.
He expressed confidence that female athletes will achieve a comparable or even greater level of fame than prominent male players, attributing this growth to the collective advancements in the sport. Clark, despite not starting any games, has been pivotal for Team USA, contributing significantly from the bench.
Over the course of the tournament, the 24-year-old guard has been one of the team's top performers, averaging just over 20 minutes and ranking third in the World Cup with 5.8 assists per game. Her standout performance in the opening match against China included 14 points and an impressive 11 assists with no turnovers. Jackson Thompson, a sports reporter for Fox News Digital, has covered significant cultural and political issues in sports.