Caitlin Clark: Courage in the Spotlight’s Heavy Burden
Caitlin Clark Prioritizing WNBA Over NBA
Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark has recently declined the invitation to participate in the NBA All-Star 3-point contest. Many were hopeful that she would accept the invitation. This would undoubtedly increase the NBA All-Star Weekend’s sagging viewership over the last 20 years. Last year, viewership spiked between 10 and 10:15 PM during the 3-point shooting contest. Stephen Curry and WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu drew over 4.6 million viewers. In all likelihood, the viewership numbers would be even greater. Not to mention there would be more traffic on all social media platforms.
The greatest female three-point shooter of all time declined. In a three-point shooting contest held in the home of the Splash Brothers and it sparked mixed reactions. Some applauded her for prioritizing the WNBA over the NBA. Others bemoaned the loss of an opportunity to increase exposure to the WNBA product. Especially, during a moment that would’ve revitalized a declining NBA All-Star weekend. We’ll never get to see the 6’0 ft Iowa product, donning navy blue and gold, racing around the three-point line in the Chase Center.
Clark’s History of Avoiding Scrutiny and Embracing the Spotlight
This is not the first time Clark has preferred to avoid scrutiny. Several reasons supported her inclusion, including her regular-season performance. The investment opportunity of a young superstar on the team, along with the established precedent for naming young players, was significant. Other notable superstars also earned spots on the women’s national team.
For example, Taurasi in 2004 (22 years old and 1 month), Sue Bird (23), Sylvia Fowles (22), Candace Parker (22), and Maya Moore (23).
Meanwhile, Clark stated, with a smile, “Honestly, no disappointment. I think it gives me something to work for.” Clark easily deflected the attempted goading of resentment with clear signs of relief. During the 2024 WNBA All-Star game, Caitlin Clark walked to the scorer’s table check in. However, as Arike Ogunbowale continued to dominate from mid-range, Clark turned around and walked back to the bench, choosing not to enter the game.
Many complimented Clark’s willingness to allow Ogunbowale to continue dominating the game, saluting her deference to the league’s elite scorer.
Is Impostor Syndrome Holding Caitlin Clark Back from Full Exposure?
Unrivaled, the league formed by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, wanted to add Caitlin Clark to the roster. They also added additional roster spots, wild-card spots, hoping that Clark would eventually accept an invitation. Clark’s willingness to accept avoidance of the spotlight is typical of highly successful women with impostor syndrome.
Imposter syndrome involves persistent feelings of self-doubt and inadequacy, coupled with a constant fear of being exposed as fraudulent. These feelings are pervasive in spite of mounting and undeniable evidence to the contrary. Quite often, those with impostor syndrome are not actual impostors.
Clark’s dominance in college was unprecedented. She lead Iowa to two NCAA championship games and broke numerous NCAA records. Clark is worthy of all the praise that is bestowed upon her. Her continued success in her first year in the WNBA. Her rookie campaign resulted in a first-team All-WNBA designation. That alone should be enough to warrant feelings of worthiness. It’s pretty obvious to most observers that Caitlin Clark is indeed a world-class basketball player. She’s also historically one of the most popular athletes, male or female, of all time.
Clark’s Legacy: A World-Class Player Who Deserves More Spotlight
When declining the invitation to participate in the NBA All-Star 3-point contest, her representatives confirmed her decision, stating, “Caitlin will not be at NBA All-Star. She wants her first 3-point contest to be at WNBA All-Star in Indianapolis this summer.” There have been reports that she declined to participate in Unrivaled, citing rest. Her last WNBA game was September 25th, when the Sun eliminated the Fever, 87-81.
Sabrina Ionescu, who is participating in Unrivaled despite recent UCL surgery, accepted the NBA’s invitation to compete against Stephen Curry last year but declined to join the women’s event. Angel Reese, considered Clark’s greatest rival, said, “We’re watching women’s basketball not just because of one person, it’s because of me, too.”
Other than Clark, how many players would’ve turned down the opportunity to increase their individual and league-wide exposure? Given the perpetual net profit loss every season, it is logical to assume that stakeholders in women’s basketball want Clark to be ever-present to promote the game.
Moving Forward: Caitlin Clark’s Role in Women’s Basketball Promotion
Like everything, this is a dynamic situation moving forward. This can be well-described in The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women by Valerie Young, Ed.D. “Your fear of being inadequate pales compared with your fear of being extraordinary,” Young writes. Stacking private and professional victories may eventually lead to outward risk-taking and opportunity-seeking. Young believes that understanding and unlearning the kind of self-limiting philosophies and patterns that drive impostor feelings are not a one-time event. One of the rate-limiting factors in the promotion and growth of the WNBA may be the willingness of Clark to not stray from the spotlight.
Caitlin Clark turned 23 years old and has accomplished more in life than this writer has in over a decade less of time. This writer simply hopes that she takes more opportunities to promote the game and show the uninformed why she is the most exciting athlete in the United States.
