MAGIC JOHNSON KNOWS CAITLIN CLARK HAS BEEN MORE IMPACTFUL THAN ANGEL REESE

Magic Johnson celebrated the seismic effect Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have already made on the WNBA.

Speaking to Doug Feinberg of the Associated Press, the Los Angeles Sparks owner credited the popular rookies for boosting women's basketball's popularity. The former Lakers icon noted that Clark's Indiana Fever have particularly delivered huge attendance numbers this season.

"Those two, especially Caitlin, are definitely a direct result for what’s going on," Johnson said. "They’ve changed college basketball. The ratings don’t lie, the numbers don’t lie. Then we see it right now, probably more Caitlin than Angel, coming into the league because she’s selling out arenas.

"Caitlin is drawing 19,000. Angel isn’t there yet, but I’m sure she’ll get there."

Courtesy of Across The Timeline, the Fever lead the league in home, away, and total attendance this season. Their eight home games have drawn an average of 16,757 people at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

After Indiana, the Chicago Sky have netted the highest average attendance on the road. While Clark leads all rookies in scoring and assists, Reese has registered 10 consecutive double-doubles.

Johnson previously opined that Clark and Reese can impact the WNBA the same way he and Larry Bird brought mainstream attention to the NBA. Like himself and his longtime Boston Celtics on-court adversary, Reese and Clark met in a heavily watched National Championship Game before simultaneously turning pro to immense fanfare.

The Hall of Famer predicted last month that Clark and Reee could similarly be the main catalysts for a better WNBA TV deal, which would lead to higher player salaries. He recently told Feinberg that a rivalry between the two budding stars would do wonders for the league.

"It’s great for the women’s game. It’s the most excited I’ve been because I see the game growing," Johnson said. "Before we didn’t have the growth, but now we have the growth. These two certainly are helping."

Related: Magic Johnson Compares Angel Reese-Caitlin Clark To Rivalry With Larry Bird

2024-07-02T15:35:27Z dg43tfdfdgfd