Stephen A's Take: Stephen A's Discusses the impact of Caitlin Clark's injury! - The Stephen A. Smith Show

Summary

The Stephen A. Smith Show: Episode Summary

Episode Title: Stephen A's Take: Stephen A's Discusses the Impact of Caitlin Clark's Injury
Release Date: May 29, 2025

Overview

In this episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, host Stephen A. Smith delves deep into the recent injury of WNBA star Caitlin Clark and its broader implications for the league. Smith not only examines Clark's remarkable contributions to the Indiana Fever and the WNBA but also explores the potential challenges the league may face during her two-week absence. Through a blend of statistical analysis, personal insights, and responses to audience engagement, Smith provides a comprehensive look at what Clark's injury means for the sport's present and future.

Caitlin Clark's Injury Report

Timestamp: [01:17]

Stephen A. Smith begins by informing listeners about Caitlin Clark's unfortunate injury. The Indiana Fever announced that Clark will be sidelined for at least two weeks due to a left quad strain. This injury surfaced after Clark experienced leg pain following the team's loss to the New York Liberty. Subsequent MRI results on Monday confirmed the diagnosis.

Key Points:

Status: Out for a minimum of two weeks.
Cause: Left quad strain post-game.
Performance Metrics:
- Averaging 19 points per game.
- Leading the league with 9.3 assists through four games this season.

Smith's Commentary: Smith emphasizes his unwavering respect for Clark's abilities, stating, “I already know that the young lady can ball. She is special.” He acknowledges her impressive stats but remains focused on the broader implications of her absence.

Caitlin Clark's Impact on the WNBA

Timestamp: [03:20]

Stephen A. Smith shifts focus to Caitlin Clark's substantial influence on the WNBA. He highlights her achievements and the significant boost she has provided to the league's visibility and popularity.

Notable Achievements:

Rookie of the Year (Last Season): Demonstrated exceptional skill and leadership.
All-WNBA Selection: Recognized as one of the top players in the league.
Playoff Milestones:
- First rookie with at least 25 points, five assists, and five rebounds in a playoff game.
- Fourth different rookie to play all 40 minutes in a playoff game.

Statistical Impact:

Television Viewership: Six different league television partners set viewership records during her rookie year, with all games featuring the Indiana Fever.
Attendance:
- Indiana Fever led the league with an average of 17,035 fans at home and over 15,000 on the road.
- Attendance for the entire league surged by nearly 50% last year.
- Indiana Fever's attendance increased by a staggering 319%, setting them apart from other teams that grew by double-digit percentages.
Merchandise Sales:
- WNBA merchandise sales soared by 450% according to Fanatics.
- Caitlin Clark became the top-selling player and ranked fifth among athletes across all sports.
- WNBA-specific merchandise sales doubled.

Smith's Analysis: Smith credits Clark as a pivotal figure in these impressive numbers. He asserts, “That's Caitlin Clark, which means she's largely responsible for the overall league attendance records.” By providing these statistics, Smith underscores the transformative effect Clark has had on the WNBA's growth and popularity.

Public and Peer Reactions

Timestamp: [04:50]

Engaging with audience interaction, Smith addresses a tweet questioning whether the WNBA can sustain itself without Caitlin Clark's presence.

Quote:

@Herethjanbucci B U C C I: "right? Stephen A. Smith can the WNBA keep itself afloat while cece, as in Caitlin Clark is out?"

Smith's Response: Smith acknowledges the validity of the concern but remains optimistic. He states, “My answer would be yes. I'm not going to summarily dismiss the WNBA. It's growing in popularity.” He references other standout players like Asia Wilson and Brianna Stewart, suggesting that the league has a robust foundation beyond Clark.

Additional Insights: Smith delves into the underlying reasons behind any potential resentment towards Clark, positing that it's not about her personally but what she represents in the league's evolution. He draws parallels with NBA legends, emphasizing that new stars do not diminish the legacy of existing ones but rather contribute to the sport's overall growth.

Implications of Caitlin Clark's Absence

Timestamp: [06:15]

Smith speculates on the potential short-term impacts of Clark's two-week absence on the Indiana Fever and the WNBA at large.

Key Considerations:

Team Dynamics: How the Fever will adjust their strategy without Clark's playmaking and scoring prowess.
League Viewership: Whether temporary fluctuations in viewership and attendance might occur.
Merchandise and Sponsorships: Potential short-term dips in sales and sponsorship engagements.

Smith's Perspective: While acknowledging the challenges, Smith remains confident in the league's resilience. He highlights the importance of a "rising tide lifts all boats," suggesting that the overall growth momentum will help the WNBA navigate any temporary setbacks.

Stephen A. Smith's Conclusions and Forward Look

Timestamp: [07:45]

In concluding his discussion, Smith reiterates his unwavering support for Caitlin Clark and his belief in the WNBA's bright future.

Key Takeaways:

Respect for Caitlin Clark: Smith maintains high regard for Clark's talent and contributions.
Optimism for the WNBA: Despite challenges, the league is on an upward trajectory.
Encouragement for Growth: Smith encourages the league and its players to leverage Clark's influence to further elevate the sport.

Final Quote:

“But people didn't want to do that. It was a lot of people that didn't want to do that. Let's call it what it is. I ain't gonna mention no names, but you know, y' all know who they are and they didn't want to give Caitlin Clark her shine.”

Smith emphasizes the importance of embracing new talent and using it as a catalyst for continued growth and innovation within the WNBA.

Conclusion

This episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show provides a thorough examination of Caitlin Clark's pivotal role in the WNBA and the potential ramifications of her temporary absence due to injury. Through detailed statistical analysis, personal insights, and engagement with audience perspectives, Smith offers a nuanced understanding of the current state and future prospects of the league. His balanced approach underscores both the significant impact of individual star players and the broader structural strengths of the WNBA.

This summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the episode, offering a comprehensive overview for those who did not have the opportunity to listen.

Transcript

Stephen A. Smith (0:00)

This is an iHeart podcast.

AT&T Advertiser (0:04)

ATT has a new guarantee because most things in life are not guaranteed. Like getting through self checkout by yourself. Not guaranteed in a world where Nothing is guaranteed. AT&T is bringing something new to the table. AT&T is introducing a guarantee with connectivity you can depend on, deals you want and service you deserve or they make it right. Learn more@att.com guarantee@&t connecting changes everything. Terms and conditions apply. Visit att.comguarantee for details.

Podcast Host (0:45)

What happens when we come face to face with death?

Stephen A. Smith (0:48)

My truck was blown up by a 20 pound anti tank mine. My parachute did not deploy. I was kidnapped by a drug cartel.

Podcast Host (0:55)

When we step beyond the edge of what we know, I clinically died.

Chase Advertiser (0:59)

The heart stopped beating which I was.

Stephen A. Smith (1:00)

Dead for 11.5 minutes. In return, it's a miracle I was brought back Alive Again.

Podcast Host (1:05)

A podcast about the strength of the human spirit. Listen to Alive Again on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.

Stephen A. Smith (1:17)

Now let's get to the WNBA where the Indiana Fever announced that star Caitlin Clark will be out at least two weeks with a left quad strain. Clark reported some pain in her leg Saturday after the team's loss to the New York Liberty. She subsequently underwent an MRI and was diagnosed with the strain on Monday. Clark was the WNBA's rookie of the year last season and a first team all WNBA selection. So far she's averaging 19 points in a league leading 9.3 assists through four games this season. I could give a damn about that last part. I don't care about her leading the league in assist. I don't care about the points that she's averaging because I already know that the young lady can ball. She is special. What I'm interested in is what somebody tweeted me and asked about earlier today that I want to show you right now. Put this tweet up please so our audience can see it. Herethjanbucci B U C C I right? Stephen A. Smith can the WNBA keep itself afloat while cece, as in Caitlin Clark is out? End quote. My answer would be yes. I'm not going to summarily dismiss the wnba. It's growing popularity. Some of the athletes that they have in there. I mean Asia Wilson, come on now. I mean it really starts with her. We all know what she brings to the table, Brianna Stewart and others. We see what this league has available to itself and what it's maintain. We get that part. But I'm not going to ignore, nor am I Going to take my eyes off of what transpires with the WNBA over the next two weeks while Caitlin Clark is out with the quad strain. And the reason why is because let me tell you something right now. I'm not going to go to word hate. I'm not going to be out there like RG3 was saying that Angel Reese hates Caitlin Clark or other players. Hate, hate Caitlin Clark. But I will say this. I don't think it's specific about Caitlin Clark. I think it's what Caitlin Clark represents. See, it's through no fault of Caitlin Clark. Caitlin Clark balls. She balled at Iowa in college. She's balled since she's been in the NBA. She came into the league last year with no break whatsoever between the college game and the pro game and did her thing, ended up as an all star, ended up being fourth in the league in MVP voting, was the clear winner for rookie of the year. No competition whatsoever in that regard. When it was really all said and done, we know what she brings to the table. But people wanted to hate because why? You had a bunch of players in this league that watched this, this, this young white girl come along and take the league by storm. And they resented it because they saw the marketing prowess that she had. They ignored the fact that you got chartered flights because of this girl. They ignored the fact that ratings were going through the roof because of this girl. Instead, they resented it because they said, yo, we were doing stuff long before Caitlin Clark got here and y' all wasn't paying attention then. But now the young white girl comes along and y' all want to sit up there and shower all of this praise and all of this attention that was earned by before she ever came along. The resentment is understandable, but it's not about Caitlin Clark. It's about what she represents. My point is, grow up. Who cares if you're Magic and Bird? That didn't stop Jordan from coming along and doing what he did over the years that followed. It didn't stop the Vince Carters of the world, the Allen Iverson's of the world, the Shaq Diesel, Shaquille o' Neal's of the world, the Kim Olajuwon of the world, the Charles Barton Buckleys of the world. Not necessarily in that order, of course, because he came before all of those guys that I mentioned. How about a Vince Carter? How about a Kobe Bryant? It didn't stop them. The fact of the matter is that it has to start somewhere. And if it starts somewhere, a rising tide lifts all boats. You Jump on that tide. You jump on that boat and elevate. And use them to elevate your play or to elevate the attention you garner. It's very simple. But people didn't want to do that. It was a lot of people that didn't want to do that. Let's call it what it is. I ain't gonna mention no names, but you know, y' all know who they are and they didn't want to do that. And I'm not talking about players and just players talk about announcers too. Talk about pundits as well. There's a whole bunch of people that didn't want to give Caitlin Clark her shine. But let me go over some of these numbers just to remind y' all of what this, this, this young sister brought to the table. Because we all brothers from another mother and all of that other stuff and sisters from another mother and got that. That's why I said that. Let's look at this. Became the first rookie with at least 25 points, five assists and five rebounds in a playoff game. That was Caitlin Clark. Became the fourth different rookie to play all 40 minutes in a playoff game. That was her. I'm looking at other things. Six different league television partners that. This is last year. This is last season. Because this is Caitlin Clark that we're talking about. Six different league television partners set viewership records this year. That year, her rookie year for its highest viewed WNBA game. Do you know every one of those games included the Indiana Fever? I mean, am I just making this up? Am I just making this up? Every one of the games, including the Indiana Fever. That's a, That's. You think that's an accident? Thanks to Clark, Indiana led the league in attendance both at home and on the road. The Fever averaged 17,035 fans at home and over 15,000 on the road. Four teams moved home games to bigger arenas when Indiana came to town to accommodate more fans. That's about Caitlin Clark. How do we know this? Attendance for the entire league was up nearly 50% last year. Last year, according to data from across the timeline, an Indiana lead led all teams with an average attendance of 17,035. That was up 319% from the year earlier. 319%. 319%. All of the teams still grew by double digit percentages, so let's not forget that. But they didn't grow by 319%. That was Caitlin Clark, which means she's largely responsible for the overall league attendance records. Merchandise sales were also up 450% for the WNBA according to Fanatics, and Clark was the top selling player and is fifth among athletes across all sports. Fanatics also reported a 100% increase in sales for WNBA specific merchandise. It started with Caitlin Clark and so now that we know all of this, and we've known that for months now, we get to turn around and look and see what exactly is it that the league will do knowing that she's out for the next two weeks. I'm not saying I know for sure what's going to happen, but I have an idea. We shall see. We'll definitely be watching.