Caitlin Clark’s arrival in the WNBA this season has undoubtedly marked a turning point for the league. From the day of the draft, which became the most-watched in WNBA history, Clark brought millions of new eyes to the league thanks to her exceptional collegiate career at the University of Iowa. She became the all-time leading scorer in both men’s and women’s NCAA Division I basketball, was a two-time national player of the year, and led her team to back-to-back Finals despite coming up short in both games.

Why the NBA Commissioner Spotlights Caitlin Clark

In her rookie season, in which she won the Rookie of the Year award, the WNBA saw unprecedented numbers in TV ratings, merchandise sales, sold out arenas and many other statistics, largely thanks to Caitlin Clark. There are still those who question her impact, which seems to be rooted in hate, because her impact is undeniable. So undeniable, in fact, that in a recent eight-picture Instagram post by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, the first picture shows Caitlin Clark laughing with her boyfriend at a Pacers game.

The post sparked a conversation among WNBA fans, who speculated that the NBA was promoting Clark more than the WNBA and its commissioner, Cathy Engelbert. It’s curious why Silver – or perhaps his social media manager – chose to lead with Clark in this series of photos. While it makes sense given that the game took place in Indiana, where Clark now lives after being drafted by the Fever, he could have highlighted a Pacers player first. But the commissioner clearly knows what he’s doing, and spotlighting Clark is always the right move.

NBA All-Star Speculation Adds to Clark’s Hype

In addition to the “free publicity” that Caitlin Clark is receiving from the NBA, there’s a rumor that Clark may participate in this season’s NBA All-Star Game, competing in the three-point contest alongside Klay Thompson. Last year, Sabrina Ionescu, who won this season’s championship with the New York Liberty, faced off against Stephen Curry – the greatest shooter in basketball history – and, as expected, came up short.

It would be incredibly entertaining to see Clark in the competition, but for now it’s all speculation. What’s clear is that the commissioner is excited about the impact Clark is having on basketball as a whole. This is just the beginning of Clark’s promising career, and her legacy will likely be seen in the next generation of players entering the league. They’ll come in with a clear mindset: basketball comes first, and if you excel, everything else will follow. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!