rewrite this title Lisa Leslie says the quiet part out loud about Caitlin Clark’s true impact on WNBA

The WNBA made history with a new collective bargaining agreement this offseason, with players making more money than ever before.

The league is expanding, and for the first time in a long while, they will thrive rather than just survive.

That might not all be thanks to Caitlin Clark, who just burst onto the scene after being the No. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, but her impact on the newfound interest and the league’s exponential growth can’t be overlooked.

That’s why WNBA legend Lisa Leslie made sure to give her her flowers. Speaking on ESPN’s “First Take,” Leslie shared her honest thoughts on Clark’s impact in the league.

Lisa Leslie gushes about Caitlin Clark’s impact

“This is a money business, and the money is about Caitlin Clark,” Leslie said. “Never in the history of the WNBA have we had a player force teams to get into larger arenas. I’ve never seen that happen. If you’re the GM, you’re obviously supposed to be bringing in money. That’s revenue. I’m going with Caitlin Clark.”

Of course, this wouldn’t have been possible without all the pioneers who were there before her.

Trailblazers like Dawn Staley, legends like Diana Taurasi and even A’ja Wilson, arguably the best player in the world, also deserve all the credit for planting the seed.

However, Clark has become a media phenom since their days in college, and watching the Indiana Fever play in packed arenas and draw the most nationally televised games in the league speaks volumes about her impact.

Whether she’ll go down as the greatest to ever do it is something only time will tell. But regardless of how her career turns out, give credit where credit is due.