Caitlin Clark, Christine Brennan, and racial stereotypes in sports media coverage

The emergence of a young, white superstar from the heartland has caused many new WNBA fans to pick sides that fall along racial lines.

The “Caitlin Clark effect,” or the impact on women’s basketball from a ponytailed rookie phenomenon from America’s heartland, is real: The 2024 WNBA season shattered viewership, attendance, and merchandise sales records.