LeBron James has expressed high admiration for Indiana Fever standout Caitlin Clark’s rookie season. Speaking to Brian O’Keefe of Esquire, he shared, “I have a great deal of respect for Caitlin Clark because I know exactly what it means to be drafted.” LeBron, a 20-time All-Star, relates closely to her journey, having faced immense expectations since high school. However, what stands out is that Clark may have even eclipsed him.
Yes, you read that right. The 22-year-old from Iowa has captivated fans in a way that even the basketball legend hasn’t matched recently. During the October 30 episode of The Ringer WNBA Show, Lexie Hull and Scott Agness joined host Seerat Sohi to dive into Indiana Fever and WNBA talk. At one point, Sohi pointed out a surprising area where Clark has surpassed LeBron.
Sohi revealed she occasionally checks Google trends. “Over the past year, Caitlin Clark has been searched more frequently than LeBron James almost every month,” she said on the podcast. But it’s not just that. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert will be especially pleased with another trend: when the NBA play-ins and WNBA draft took place this April, Clark was googled more than the 4-time NBA champion. According to Sohi, only a few events, like the Olympics, led to brief periods when LeBron outpaced Clark in search interest.
Reflecting back to 2003, when the Cleveland Cavaliers drafted LeBron, their intention to make him their franchise star was clear. Since then, he’s consistently captivated audiences, notching remarkable performances—including a $90 million Nike deal, an outstanding rookie season, and ultimately securing the Rookie of the Year award. Twenty years later, his name still draws viewers and peaks in search interest, as Sohi mentioned.
Meanwhile, Caitlin Clark is carving out her own legacy. The WNBA Rookie of the Year has had an impressive first season, delivering highlight-reel moments that thrilled fans. Her impact was evident in her final game of the season; Game 2 of the Fever’s playoff series against the Sun drew 2.5 million viewers on ESPN, peaking at 3.4 million—the most-watched WNBA game on cable to date. Not bad, right?
And that’s just one part of her global fanbase’s enthusiasm. Since her debut, Clark has consistently packed arenas, with Indiana Fever games reaching up to 94% capacity and nearly every game selling out. Fans even expressed disappointment when she was left off the Paris Olympics roster, with one fan holding a sign at Team USA’s first game reading, “The team needs Caitlin Clark to win.” It’s a clear indication: the world is watching, and Clark’s skill and court presence have already cemented her as a household name alongside LeBron.
