Where Caitlin Clark and Iowa basketball go, palpable energy and excitement follow. When Iowa played Maryland on Saturday, February 3rd, 17,950 people attended the Xfinity Center in College Park, MD. It was clear that even among Maryland fans, there was a sense of urgency and enthrallment to get a glimpse of Caitlin Clark in action. Those fans included Frances Tiafoe, the 14th ranked men's player on the Associate for Tennis Professionals Tour, and Hyattsville, MD native, who sat courtside and met Caitlin Clark after the game.

Clark, the most prolific shooter in the women's game, is only 66 points away from the NCAA women's all-time scoring record set in 2017 by Kelsey Plum while at Washington. She is a bonafide star, a fiery presence on the court accustomed to playing in front of large, hostile crowds and crowds who are there to see her. When Clark came out early and alone to shoot threes, the crowd cheered – a rare warm welcome for an opposing player.

As players like Clark gain popularity in the mainstream by appearing in highlight reels and major brand deals, new audiences appear. The days of seeing women's games as only a way for families and dedicated retirees to have a nice, affordable outing are over. The marketability of a star like Clark, whose big personality shines and whose athleticism allows her to dominate opponents, drives change and additional coverage, bringing new fans into the fold, including young men. In the case of the game at Maryland, her star power attracted new and old basketball fans. A man from Maryland returned to campus for the first time since the 80s to see Clark. Families drove hundreds of miles and stayed in local hotels. Men in their 20s and 30s game in groups and bought pints of beer and chicken tenders. Even loyal Maryland fans acknowledged how that game felt different with Clark on the court.

Clark represents something larger. The coverage she receives is inspirational for the potential of women's sports and players and helps change the narrative of what women's sports can be. She's an ambassador for a women's game bursting at the seams with talent and profitability. However, coverage and attendance for men's sports do not hinge on a generational talent coming to town as they do for women's sports. For example, the Maryland women's basketball team averaged 7,379 fans per game last season – the highest since 2009. That puts them fifth nationally. The men's team that won around 18% fewer games had an average of 14,046. If it takes a record-breaking talent to draw the numbers the men's teams usually receive, women's sports still have a way to go before true equality.

That does not mean we should not celebrate how Clark has contributed to the game's growth. What she has accomplished on and off the court is an unbelievable feat. Clark is a big deal and holds more power than many college athletes imagine. Fortunately for fans and basketball, she is certainly not the last great player, and when she likely goes to the WNBA this summer, younger players will step up and become big names in the way Clark has and continue to grow the game.