marketable vs. marketed: on caitlin clark, a'ja wilson, & storytelling in women's sports
plus reads & vibes for your weekend.
Happy Friday and welcome back to The Update.
Let’s jump into the conversation.
ICYMI: The WNBA Draft took place on Monday and as predicted, Caitlin Clark was selected #1 overall by the Indiana Fever. She was decked out head to toe in Prada, the first NBA or WNBA athlete ever to be dressed by the house for the draft. This is just one indication of the fact that times are changing.
Clark is turning heads in women’s basketball, not just with her long-range three-pointers, but also with her passionate style of play that has fans cheering from all over the world. Her playing style is electrifying, perfectly fitting the way modern sports fans consume the game. While some might say her inability to lead her team to a national championship is a mark against her, many wonder if winning is the only measure of greatness. The answer, for me, is no.
Here's the thing: the women’s game has always had remarkable talent, but now more people are paying attention. It's like turning on a light in a room that is already filled with diamonds. Just take a look at teams like LSU, where players like Angel Reese and Flau’jae Johnson added excitement and anticipation to matches against Caitlin Clark through their off-court conversations and social media presence. Viewership on last year’s National Championship and this year’s Final Four matchup between Iowa and LSU were through the roof, thanks in large part to the personalities of the teams, and whether you like it or not, the racial undertones that the games carried.
Sports, like everything else, is evolving with the times. Fans can now get direct insights from their favorite athletes through social media channels and podcasts hosted by the athletes themselves. This heightened engagement has its ups and downs, but one thing's for sure: more eyes are on women’s basketball than ever before.
It's not unusual for shifts in sports to reflect broader societal issues. For example, let’s take a look back to the NBA in the 1970s when low viewership and attendance were partly attributed to the dominance of Black players, which turned off some white fans.
Everything changed with the emergence of stars like Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. Their rivalry sparked interest across demographics, proving that representation matters on all fronts. The NBA was able to seize the moment, capitalize on the popularity and rivalry, and has now become one of the world's most profitable professional sports leagues.
The WNBA is experiencing a similar evolution. Despite being just 27 years old, the league is gaining momentum, thanks in part to players like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Cameron Brink. However, the rise of a new class shouldn’t overshadow the contributions of established players like A’ja Wilson, a two-time WNBA champion, Olympic Gold Medalist and league MVP. She is the face of the league and a Nike athlete. For several years, fans have asked why she hasn’t received her signature shoe.
There are only two other current WNBA players that have signature shoe deals - Breanna Stewart through Puma, and Sabrina Ionescu with Nike. With the announcement of Caitlin Clark’s pending deal, the conversation came down to a simple question - why not A’ja?
Many argued that A’ja isn’t as marketable as Caitlin, and that’s where I had to pause the tape. Most of the time, people are just talking out of the side of their necks online, and have no idea what words actually mean. A more reasonable response here is that A’ja has not been marketed in the same way that Caitlin has. If the storytelling isn’t happening, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t stories - they aren’t being shared.
There’s a huge difference between not being marketable (I.e. - having a quality that would make it difficult for you to be positioned in front of consumers) and not being marketed (just simply not being presented to the consumers, or not being presented to the consumers well.) If A’ja’s story isn’t being told, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist—it's just not reaching the same audience.
There’s also a very real component of this story that is tied to race. Many people in states like Iowa and Indiana who never paid attention to the game before are gravitating toward Caitlin Clark because she looks like them and represents them. There is a strong probability that there are people who don’t see themselves in A’ja Wilson, simply because she’s a Black woman. People seem to want to get away from this part of the conversation, but it’s important context.
Finally, the misconception that there can only be one standout player or one lucrative endorsement deal is outdated. There’s room for many talented female athletes to shine, and the hope is that the increased attention on the WNBA will allow more of them to step into the spotlight. The question now is whether they'll seize the opportunity. For the sake of all of the little girls growing up with an interest in playing basketball - I hope that they do.
WaPo: U.S. blocks resolution for Palestinian statehood at the United Nations
NBC: USC decision to cancel Muslim valedictorian's speech further inflames tensions on campus
HuffPo: Rep. Ilhan Omar's Daughter, Isra Hirsi, Suspended From Barnard
Tyler Perry has re-upped his deal with BET media - to include new seasons for 11 shows including The Oval & Sistas [Read More]
Sundial Media Group, the parent company of ESSENCE, has acquired Refinery29. This is coming on the heels of massive layoffs at the company. [Read More]
50 Cent celebrated the grand opening of his G-Unit Film Studio in Shreveport, Louisiana this week. G-Unit Studios is now the 2nd Largest Black-Owned film studio in the country. [Read More]
GloRilla caught a DUI charge in Georgia this week, but people online are questioning the validity after body-cam video of her field sobriety test was released. [Read More]
NBA Young Boy has been detained in Utah and hit with over 60 charges related to an apparent pharmaceutical fraud ring. He and his friends allegedly called pharmacies, posing as doctors, using real patient names to try to fill orders of Promethazine and Codeine. 🤦🏾♀️ [Read More]
In her first official press conference as a pro, Caitlin Clark was subjected to a sexist remark from a reporter. The reporter has since apologized but it’s a signal for how far we still have left to go. [Read The Apology]
LA Times writer Marissa Evans profiled the artist formerly known as Blac Chyna. Angela White is on a journey of self-love, and self-discovery. [It’s worth the read]
Max is releasing a documentary called “Call Me Country: Beyonce & Nashville’s Renaissance” next Friday. It features interviews from Rihannon Giddens, Tanner Addell and more. [Learn More]
Taylor Swift’s new album, The Tortured Poets Department, has been named an instant classic by Rolling Stone. I’m listening to it and I’ll provide my thoughts next week. [Read The Review]
That’s all for this week friends. If you enjoyed the newsletter, please feel free to share it. I’ll see you right back here next week!