Will the 'Caitlin Clark Effect' follow the Hawkeye superstar to the WNBA?

ALEX FEARS LIKE CAITLIN THOUGH. THANK YOU. NOW THE HAWKEYE WOMEN AREN’T JUST BRINGING IN A BIG BOOST TO TELEVISION VIEWS, THEY’RE ALSO HAVING A BIG IMPACT ON LOCAL BUSINESSES, FROM BARS TO RESTAURANT. EVERYBODY WANTS TO GET OUT TO WATCH THE HAWKEYES HIT THE HARDWOOD. A LOT OF BUSINESS OWNERS SAY THEY’VE SEEN PROFITS NEARLY TRIPLED DURING MARCH MADNESS, ACCORDING TO THE COMMON SENSE INSTITUTE. THE CAITLIN CLARK EFFECT MAY HAVE GENERATED $52 MILLION FOR IOWA’S ECONOMY. WE’RE GETTING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE AND IT’S GETTING BIGGER. IT’S GETTING LOUDER, AND IT’S A VERY FUN ENVIRONMENT TO BE IN. AND THE HAWKEYES ARE ALSO HAVING A HUGE IMPACT ON MEMORABILIA STORES. BOTH REAGAN AND ROOKIE TRADING SAY THE FANS HAVE GENERATED TENS

History was made Sunday when Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes took on the South Carolina Gamecocks in the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship game.Sunday's game outdrew Monday's NCAA Men's Basketball title game. The game on Monday averaged 14.82 million viewers, in comparison to the average 18.9 million viewers who tuned in the Iowa Hawkeyes played the South Carolina Gamecocks.Related video above: Caitlin Clark's economic impact on Iowa businesses"When you're given an opportunity, women's sports just kind of thrives," said Caitlin Clark, following Sunday's game. "I think that's been the coolest thing for me on this journey. We started our season playing in front of 55,000 people in Kinnick Stadium and now we're ending it playing in front of probably 15 million people or more on TV."Clark and her record-breaking year play a huge role in captivating viewers' attention.South Carolina coach Dawn Staley says the rise of interest in women's basketball is a testament to the number of college-level players now focusing on the WNBA."Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese are all worthy of their space in our sport," said Staley. "They're bringing more eyeballs to our sport; they're bringing more viewership to our sport."The WNBA is hoping to see the same.Clark is the projected first-overall pick, who is widely expected to go to the Indiana Fever.Over this last weekend, the Las Vegas Aces announced a venue change for their July game against the Fever. The announcement, made on the Aces' social media pages, says it's going to a larger venue because they've already sold out five games.On Monday, the Phoenix Mercury posted on their social media about their game against the Fever in June. The post includes a graphic showing Mercury player Diana Taurasi, with the words "The GOAT vs. The Rook." Clark is not seen on the graphic, however, "No. 22" is seen on a silhouetted shape of a person.The WNBA draft takes place on Monday, April 15.

DES MOINES, Iowa —

History was made Sunday when Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes took on the South Carolina Gamecocks in the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship game.

Sunday's game outdrew Monday's NCAA Men's Basketball title game. The game on Monday averaged 14.82 million viewers, in comparison to the average 18.9 million viewers who tuned in the Iowa Hawkeyes played the South Carolina Gamecocks.

Related video above: Caitlin Clark's economic impact on Iowa businesses

"When you're given an opportunity, women's sports just kind of thrives," said Caitlin Clark, following Sunday's game. "I think that's been the coolest thing for me on this journey. We started our season playing in front of 55,000 people in Kinnick Stadium and now we're ending it playing in front of probably 15 million people or more on TV."

Clark and her record-breaking year play a huge role in captivating viewers' attention.

South Carolina coach Dawn Staley says the rise of interest in women's basketball is a testament to the number of college-level players now focusing on the WNBA.

"Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese are all worthy of their space in our sport," said Staley. "They're bringing more eyeballs to our sport; they're bringing more viewership to our sport."

The WNBA is hoping to see the same.

Clark is the projected first-overall pick, who is widely expected to go to the Indiana Fever.

Over this last weekend, the Las Vegas Aces announced a venue change for their July game against the Fever. The announcement, made on the Aces' social media pages, says it's going to a larger venue because they've already sold out five games.

On Monday, the Phoenix Mercury posted on their social media about their game against the Fever in June. The post includes a graphic showing Mercury player Diana Taurasi, with the words "The GOAT vs. The Rook." Clark is not seen on the graphic, however, "No. 22" is seen on a silhouetted shape of a person.

The WNBA draft takes place on Monday, April 15.

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