Basketball
Caitlin Clark has been pivotal to the massive rise in popularity of women’s basketball over the last few years. The Indiana Fever superstar has received special praise for her impact from FIBA’s Secretary General Andreas Zagklis.
Ahead of the 2026 FIBA World Cup final between Team USA and France, Zagklis reserved special praise for Clark and hailed the impact she has had on women’s basketball.
Basketball FIBA Executive Hails Caitlin Clark’s Impact on Women’s Basketball
Hailing Clark as one of the sporting superstars of the current generation, Zagklis predicted that the 24-year-old and her fellow women’s basketball players could be more popular than their male counterparts at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
“I think what these players, Caitlin, one of them, have done in increasing the popularity of the women’s game is incredible. We should feel very proud about them… The players said this is a unique moment for them,” Zagklis said during a press conference ahead of the 2026 FIBA World Cup.
“The popularity of our women’s game, of Caitlin as one of the biggest stars of this generation has done… Players around the world are picking up these opportunities. And I’m extremely proud of them,” he added.
Zagklis also shared a prophecy, saying, “I do believe that in the Los Angeles Olympics, our female players may be at the same or even higher level of popularity than many of our former male players.”
Caitlin Clark’s star power has gone GLOBAL.
FIBA’s Secretary General calls her one of the biggest stars of her generation and predicts women’s basketball players could be more popular than many of the men at the 2028 LA Olympics
📹: @JackThompsonFOX pic.twitter.com/iQ5W3Efy1H— OutKick (@Outkick) September 13, 2026
Clark enjoyed a dominant run at the college level with the Iowa Hawkeyes and has emerged as an MVP candidate in the WNBA this season. She has come off the bench at the FIBA World Cup, with Team USA head coach Kara Lawson preferring to start the veteran Chelsea Gray at point guard.
Despite her bench role, Clark has made her presence felt for Team USA at the World Cup. In the lead-up to the final, the 6-foot-0 guard averaged 7 points, 5.8 assists, and 2.4 rebounds per game in Berlin. She has also received praise for her defensive work at the World Cup.
While debate continues over whether Clark deserves a starting spot, there is no doubt that she has completely changed the landscape of women’s basketball. Team USA will be eager to retain its gold medal at the 2028 LA Olympics, and Clark will play a key role in that bid.
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