Zanor column: Caitlin Clark had Bird/Magic-like impact on women's hoops
Just thought I’d empty out my reporter’s notebook while wondering what transfer portal players UConn is going to bring in to help the Huskies go for an amazing men's college basketball three-peat ...
Caitlin Clark's legacy
While reading Josh Peters’ story in USA TODAY about the phenomenal TV ratings for the NCAA women’s basketball tournament semifinal and championship games, a thought crossed my mind: Is Caitlin Clark the Larry Bird and Magic Johnson of women’s college basketball?
At the time, the 1979 NCAA men’s championship basketball game between Bird’s Indiana State Sycamores and Johnson’s Michigan State Spartans drew the highest television rating in college basketball history. NBC’s telecast received a 24.1 rating.
Wrote Peters, the NCAA women’s national championship game that pitted South Carolina against Iowa last Sunday smashed a TV ratings record for the most-watched women’s basketball game ever according to ESPN, which along with ABC televised the game and cited Nielsen Fast Nationals.
The number of viewers peaked at 24 million and drew an average of 18.7 million viewers during a game in which South Carolina prevailed over Caitlin Clark and Iowa.
Do you think all of those viewers were tuning in to see Dawn Staley and Kamilla Cardoso?
The previous record for the most-watched women’s basketball game was set two days earlier during the Final Four semifinal game between Iowa and Connecticut. That game averaged 14.2 million viewers, according to ESPN, which televised the game during a historic women’s NCAA Tournament for TV ratings.
Do you think all of those viewers were tuning in to see Geno Auriemma and Paige Bueckers?
Like Bird and Magic, Clark elevated her team with her amazing scoring and passing skills, and phenomenal basketball IQ. She made everyone around her better while leading the Hawkeyes to two straight championship games. People wanted to see her play.
Bird and Magic changed college basketball and the NCAA men’s tournament. Clark has done the same for the women’s game.
Trivia time
Three Boston Red Sox players hit two home runs each against the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1967 World Series. Name the slugging trio. Hint: All three players equaled a World Series record when they each hit a home run in the fourth inning of Game 6, leading the Sox to an 8-4 win and setting up a Game 7 matchup in Boston against Bob Gibson.
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Hoop Hall
The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2024 has been announced. The new inductees will be enshrined during festivities in Springfield (Mass.), the Birthplace of Basketball, as well as the Mohegan Sun on August 16-17.
Here are the members of the Class of 2024:
North American Committee (in alphabetical order): Chauncey Billups, Vince Carter, Michael Cooper, Walter Davis, Bo Ryan, Charles Smith
Women's Committee: Seimone Augustus
Men’s Veteran Committee: Dick Barnett
Women's Veteran Committee: Harley Redin
International Committee: Michele Timms
Contributors Committee: Doug Collins, Herb Simon, Jerry West
"Without a shadow of doubt, the accomplishments of the 2024 class stand as a testament to unparalleled excellence," said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. "From showcasing unrivaled prowess on the courts and sidelines, spanning the high school, collegiate and professional ranks, to steering the course of basketball across an entire continent and to orchestrating a pair of dynasties, we are honored to pay tribute to these remarkable individuals alongside our esteemed award recipients.”
The Walter Cup
The Stanley Cup has a sister trophy!
The Professional Women’s Hockey League announced this week that its championship trophy is named The Walter Cup. The Walter family is a leader in philanthropy and business, and provided the foundational support that launched the PWHL. The naming of the trophy was proposed by sports icon and PWHL Advisory Board Member Billie Jean King.
“The Walter Cup is the greatest prize a PWHL team can win and the finest gift the players can give their fans,” King said. “The Walter Cup marks a monumental milestone in women’s hockey and for all women’s sports. It recognizes the historic commitment by Mark and Kimbra Walter to make this dream come true for the PWHL players of today and tomorrow.”
The PWHL regular season concludes on May 5 with the top four teams in the standings advancing to compete in the inaugural PWHL Playoffs. The semifinals and the championship final will be best-of-five series.
Boston is currently in fifth place in the standings, five points behind fourth place Ottawa.
The Walter Cup is made of sterling silver and crafted at the Tiffany & Co. hollowware workshop in Cumberland, Rhode Island.
“This trophy reflects the level of excellence required to win in the PWHL, and we hope it will inspire championship dreams in young players everywhere,” Mark Walter said, speaking on behalf of his wife, Kimbra, and daughter, Samantha.
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Trivia answer
Carl Yastrzemski, Rico Petrocelli, and Reggie Smith. Yaz and Petrocelli are the only two Red Sox players to start in both the 1967 and 1975 World Series. After the 1973 season, Smith was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for Bernie Carbo and Rick Wise.
Stuck in the '70s
On April 14, 1974 – my late brother Eddie’s 10th birthday – the Boston Celtics defeated the New York Knickerbockers, 113-88, in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals at the Boston Garden.
John Havlicek scored a game-high 25 points while dishing out 12 assists, Jo Jo White had 22 points, and Dave Cowens also posted a double-double 16 points and 13 rebounds.
The defending NBA champion Knicks were led by Walt Frazier (16 points) and Dave DeBusschere (15 points, 10 rebounds).
Jimmy Zanor is a sportswriter for the Norwich Bulletin and can be reached at jzanor@norwichbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter@jzanorNB.
This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Zanor column: Caitlin Clark's legacy and new basketball Hall of Famers
