Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Episode: Hour 3 - Caitlin Clark
Release Date: April 18, 2025

The Herd with Colin Cowherd delivers a comprehensive and engaging exploration of Caitlin Clark's impact on the sports landscape. Hosted by iHeartPodcasts and The Volume, this episode delves deep into Clark's influence, comparing her to other sports icons and examining her role in transforming women's basketball.

1. Introduction to Caitlin Clark's Influence

Colin Cowherd opens the episode by highlighting Caitlin Clark's monumental impact on women's basketball. He references Time Magazine's recent list of the 100 most influential people in America, noting the surprising absence of Clark despite her recent accolades.

"We thought because of the Caitlin Clark story this week Time magazine came out with the most influential 100 most influential people in America and they had two WNBA players on it. But not Caitlin Clark."
— Colin Cowherd [32:37]

Cowherd emphasizes Clark's role in boosting merchandise sales, ticket sales, and TV ratings, asserting that her presence has "exploded" various aspects of the sport.

2. Comparing Clark to Other Sports Icons

In a spirited discussion with Eric Mangini, Cowherd engages in a series of comparisons between Caitlin Clark and other prominent athletes to gauge her level of influence.

• Nikola Jokic vs. Caitlin Clark

  "Is Caitlin Clark more or less influential than Nikola Jokic?"
  "More."
  — Caitlin Clark [33:50]

  Cowherd argues that while Jokic is a phenomenal player with significant skill, Clark's influence extends beyond her performance, affecting the visibility and popularity of women's basketball.

• Luka Doncic vs. Clark

  "Is Caitlin Clark more or less influential than Luka Doncic?"
  "More."
  — Colin Cowherd [34:19]

  The comparison highlights Clark's broader cultural and commercial impact compared to Doncic's on-court achievements.

• Steph Curry vs. Clark

  "Is Caitlin Clark more or less influential than Steph Curry?"
  "Less, because Steph changed the entire way we played basketball. She is the Steph Curry of women's basket."
  — Colin Cowherd [35:19]

  Cowherd acknowledges Curry's transformative influence on the game but positions Clark as a pivotal figure within women's basketball.

• LeBron James vs. Clark

  "Is Caitlin Clark more or less influential than LeBron James?"
  "LeBron is more influential not just because he has been the driving force with the NBA for two decades. LeBron's really the face of empowerment and mobility. So LeBron's influence is way beyond basketball."
  — Colin Cowherd [35:41]

  Here, Cowherd differentiates between LeBron's extensive influence across sports and society and Clark's more concentrated impact within her sphere.

• Shohei Ohtani vs. Clark

  "Is Caitlin Clark more or less influential than Shohei Ohtani?"
  "Less."
  — Colin Cowherd [38:22]

  Cowherd points out Ohtani's global influence and transformative effect on baseball, contrasting it with Clark's focused impact.

• Coco Gauff vs. Clark

  "Is Caitlin Clark more or less influential than Coco Gauff?"
  "More influential. Asia Wilson's a better player. But the ratings for the WNBA, the ticket sales, sure, they didn't double when she arrived."
  — Colin Cowherd [38:59]

  Clark is positioned as a more significant influence in her league compared to Gauff's influence in tennis.

3. Caitlin Clark's Transformative Role in Women's Basketball

Cowherd delves into specific ways Caitlin Clark has revolutionized women's basketball:

• Merchandise and Ticket Sales:
  Clark's popularity has led to increased merchandise sales and ticket demand, with WNBA teams moving her games to larger arenas to accommodate the surge in spectators.

• TV Ratings:
  The presence of Caitlin Clark has significantly boosted TV ratings for women's basketball games, drawing in a wider audience and increasing the sport's visibility.

• Cultural Impact:
  Cowherd compares Clark's influence to historical sports figures like Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan, underscoring her role in elevating the status of women's basketball.

"I think there's a lot of bubble screens in college. Like, I get it, but every time I watched him, I was like, yeah, like, he's accuracy matters. He throws a great ball left, right, up, back. Like, I think we're overthinking it a little with him maybe."
— Eric Mangini [14:07]

• "Caitlin Fluencers" Campaign:
  In response to Time Magazine's omission, Cowherd introduces the "Caitlin Fluencers" campaign, positioning Clark alongside other significant sports stars to emphasize her influence.

"We'll give great athletes and we'll say, is she more or less influential than this athlete?"
— Colin Cowherd [33:50]

4. The Future of Caitlin Clark and Women's Basketball

The conversation shifts to the future prospects of Caitlin Clark and the broader implications for women's basketball:

• Sustaining Growth:
  Cowherd discusses the necessity for Clark to maintain her performance and continues to be a central figure in driving the sport's popularity.

• Comparative Analysis with Other Athletes:
  By comparing Clark to athletes like Karl-Anthony Towns and Patrick Mahomes, the discussion underscores the unique position Clark holds in sports influence, particularly within the WNBA.

• Impact on Other Sports:
  Cowherd suggests that Clark's success could have cascading effects on other women's sports, potentially increasing their visibility and commercial success.

"What do you think? She just, by the way, there's a campaign today for Gatorade that Caitlin Clark is part of. So that's, she's a breakthrough athlete. Just to, to give you a heads up, basically every merchandise, ticket sales, TV ratings exploded with Caitlin Clark. I mean, everything exploded."
— Colin Cowherd [32:37]

5. Conclusion: Recognizing Caitlin Clark's Legacy

In wrapping up the episode, Cowherd reiterates Caitlin Clark's unparalleled influence in her sport, likening her to legendary figures who have reshaped their respective sports.

"She is the Steph Curry of women's basket. So Steph is. Outside of Michael Jordan, I'd argue Steph's the most influential player in league history."
— Colin Cowherd [35:19]

Cowherd emphasizes that Caitlin Clark's contributions extend beyond her athletic prowess, highlighting her role in transforming the perception and popularity of women's basketball.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Colin Cowherd on Time Magazine's Omission:

  "We thought because of the Caitlin Clark story this week Time magazine came out with the most influential 100 most influential people in America and they had two WNBA players on it. But not Caitlin Clark."
  — [32:37]

• Comparing Influences:

  "Is Caitlin Clark more or less influential than Nikola Jokic?"
  "More."
  — [33:50]

• On Steph Curry's Impact:

  "Less, because Steph changed the entire way we played basketball. She is the Steph Curry of women's basket."
  — [35:19]

• On Caitlin Clark's Transformation of the WNBA:

  "American Public University is the number one provider of education to our military and veterans in this country..."
  (Note: This is part of an advertisement and should be disregarded in the context of content summary.)

Final Thoughts

This episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd skillfully underscores Caitlin Clark's significant role in elevating women's basketball. Through insightful comparisons and in-depth analysis, the discussion positions Clark as a transformative figure whose influence rivals that of some of the most legendary athletes across various sports. Listeners gain a nuanced understanding of how one athlete can reshape a sport's landscape, driving both commercial success and cultural recognition.