LeBron James calls Caitlin Clark, Audi Crooks 'icons' driving women's basketball
LeBron James is showing some love for two of Iowa’s college basketball players, Caitlin Clark and Audi Crooks, in a recent interview.
The Los Angeles Laker was asked about what stands out to him when he watches women’s college basketball and how they play after the Lakers win over the Washington Wizards on April 3, as ESPN reported.
Clark, a University of Iowa point guard, is regarded as the face of college basketball and widely expected to be the top draft pick in the WNBA.
Crooks, a freshman, is a center for the Iowa State women’s basketball team and helped lead the team into the second round of the NCAA Tournament. She was named to the All-Big 12 coaches first team in March.
What did LeBron James say about Caitlin Clark and Audi Crooks?
James said both men’s and women’s college basketball players “play the right way.”
He doesn’t see much of a difference between men’s and women’s games in college basketball.
“I think the popularity comes in is the icons they have in the women’s games,” James said. “You look at Angel Reese, you look at JuJu [Watkins], you look at Caitlin Clark, you look at Paige [Bueckers], you look at the young girl [Audi Crooks] that’s in Iowa State, the freshman there, you look at [Cameron] Brink … at Stanford. And that’s just to name a few. The freshman that’s at Norte Dame.”
He said players, because of NBA eligibility rules, build a legacy in their respective programs.
“Iowa was a great team, but Caitlin Clark is the reason we’re tuned in,” James said. “You’re going to watch Purdue because of Zach Edey.”
He added that players, “depending on who they are, will drive the attention when it comes to viewership.”
What was the viewership for Iowa vs LSU?
Certainly, the 2024 Women’s NCAA Tournament is popular, as evidenced by its 127% increase in viewership year over year.
Iowa’s win over LSU in the Elite Eight drew an average viewership of 12.3 million, the highest viewership for the Elite Eight ever. It had more viewership than last year’s World Series.
Watch LeBron James discuss women’s college basketball here
See James share his thoughts on college basketball and Clark and Crooks on YouTube.
Paris Barraza is a trending and general assignment reporter at the Des Moines Register. Reach her at pbarraza@registermedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Caitlin Clark, Audi Crooks praised by LeBron James amid March Madness
