I have been deeply embedded in the women’s basketball world for more than four decades — as a player, coach, administrator, broadcaster and marketing executive. It has allowed me to see the product from all angles, to celebrate it and to feel incredibly rewarded by all the things that are happening right now. Our sport has never been in a better place. I never thought in my lifetime I would see the women’s championship game out-rate the men’s, as it did last year.
Caitlin Clark sparked a major economic change to the entire ecosystem that I call Clarkonomics. Clark, however, has moved on to the WNBA. The women’s college game is in great position to capitalize on her popularity, but only if the game’s stakeholders are willing to be proactive to move things into the Clarkless future.
We don’t want this recent disruption to the ecosystem to be just a spike or a moment; it has to be a movement. Here are four ideas for not just continuing the momentum, but building on it. These are not right or wrong — they’re only meant to get people thinking and to start conversations about these topics and others.
