In your neighborhood, it might be challenging to find someone who can name ten athletes from the United States more famous than Caitlin Clark. In fact, you may know people who consider Clark the only athlete they can name. This is not just because the Fever guard is magnetic and spectacular—qualities we haven’t seen in some time—but also because she has elevated two leagues that previously felt like second-tier options into major cultural phenomena in the United States.
The most exciting part of this shift is that it’s not just Clark who benefits; a new pathway has been opened for other female athletes to take advantage of the growing popularity of their sport.
For 20 years, even those who couldn’t name a single player or coach in women’s basketball could at least tell you that the UConn Huskies are one of the most long-standing sports dynasties of the 21st century, dominating their competition much like the New England Patriots and Golden State Warriors have. Anyone with basic knowledge of the best players in the WNBA likely knows that some of them played for Geno Auriemma’s Huskies.
Paige Bueckers has emerged as the newest sensation; in fact, she’s been at the center of discussions for longer than many realize. Bueckers was the top-ranked women’s basketball player in high school in 2019 and one of the first big social media sensations at that level, reflecting the increased popularity of amateur players we’ve seen on the men’s side for some time. Her commitment to UConn made headlines and garnered national attention, allowing her to build a relationship with fans even before stepping foot in Storrs.
But she is not alone. USC Trojans guard Juju Watkins is a star in the making and is viewed by many as the face of women’s college basketball in 2025. She is averaging 25.5 points per game, ranking her third in the nation, and has the Trojans positioned fourth in the country with a 16-1 record. A successful run in the NCAA Tournament could solidify her status as an organically grown college icon, with the accolades and visually appealing style of play to compete with Bueckers for the top spot in the 2025 WNBA Draft.
These two players are already considered megastars, and there’s still room for even more growth; when one rises, all boats rise with the tide.
Clark’s departure from college basketball was less than a year ago, so her appeal to the league remains fresh. Bueckers and Watkins can both easily benefit from this new reality.
Both players have the opportunity to pursue trajectories similar to Clark’s, leveraging the small gap between college and the pros to strengthen relationships right where they left off. Fans are engaged with women’s college basketball and want to connect with the established and emerging stars they watched compete alongside Clark. Those fans will get a formal introduction to Watkins and a kind reintroduction to Bueckers, both of whom have clear paths to succeed in platforms that are far bigger than when they entered or would have entered. The success they were destined for will be amplified.
Written By Anders Pryor