Rise of womens basketball is much more than Caitlin Clark: Megan Rapinoe

Megan Rapinoe emphasized that the Caitlin Clark effect was built on the foundation of past and present WNBA veterans.The retired USWNT star explained that Clark — who was the No.

1 overall pick by the Fever in the 2024 WNBA Draft — isn’t the only one who’s responsible for the growth of women’s basketball.“Being at the Final Four was incredible.

It felt like it was what the game deserved and what I think fans of women’s sports really deserved and I think in a huge part, it’s because Caitlin is standing on the shoulders of [retired Seattle legend and Rapinoe’s fiancée] Sue Bird and [Phoenix Mercury guard] Diana Taurasi and [retired four-time champion] Maya Moore and the [reigning champion Gamecocks head coach] Dawn Staleys and [Basketball Hall of Famer] Lisa Leslies — everybody,” Rapinoe said at the Business of Women’s Sports Summit in New York on Tuesday.“The WNBA’s been around for 28 years and really doesn’t get the credit [as] the legacy women’s sports league that all of us are really basing all the other leagues off of and base so much of our structure.” Rapinoe went on to explain that Clark’s celebrity and record-breaking season — the Iowa guard became the NCAA’s all-time Division I leading scorer, men’s or women’s, in March — dominated other storylines.

“It’s so much more than Caitlin, though.[There’s] a huge storyline around Dawn Staley and her game,” she said.

“It doesn’t look like she’s slowing down.Incredible, undefeated [South Carolina] season and the only reason it wasn’t the only thing talked about is because Caitlin was going absolutely bonkers.”The 38-year-old soccer icon described herself as a “real-life fangirl” post-retirement and said she can’t wait to see Clark play at the pro level.

“You gotta capture the moment also, and my God, she has,” Rapinoe said of the 22-year-old Clark.“I can’t wait.

I’m going to the game when they play in Seattle and will be back here...