Stephen A. Smith Used Two Words To Describe Caitlin Clark After Team USA Snub

The reason for the rise of the WNBA has been widely debated in the past month. Some believe it's finally caught the attention of fans with veterans like Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner, and A'ja Wilson, but most are pointing straight toward the 2024 WNBA draft.

Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Cameron Brink, and Nika Muhl are four rookies who came into the league with stardom on and off the court. These players took advantage of the social media era and built their brand to have lasting fandom online and on the hardwood.

While many have hundreds of thousands of fans online, no one has changed the game like Clark.

The Indiana Fever rookie leads all first-year players in points and assists, notching 15.6 points and 6 assists through the team's 4-10 record.

ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith recently spoke on Clark's influence, sharing his honest insight after Clark was snubbed from Team USA's final 12-team lineup. Some analysts are commenting on Clark's rookie season struggles, but he's calling her "box office."

"This girl is box office!" said Smith via ESPN.

"I said a rising tide lifts all boats. What you do [is include Caitlin Clark], especially if you're Team USA. You're trying to be globalized, and there's an opportunity to globalize the WNBA brand, so people like Brittney Griner and others don't have to go to Russia in the offseason to play additional basketball to get extra income," said Smith.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) applauds while looking at the scoreboard in the third quarter against the New York Liberty at Barclays Center. Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Clark's potential selection for the Team USA roster has been questioned, given her shooting splits of 32.2% from three, 36.7% from the field, and her inexperience at 22 years old.

Smith doesn't see her age or slight struggles on the court as an issue. He considers the 2024 Summer Olympics as a chance to grow the game globally.

The WNBA's popularity with Clark as a rookie has skyrocketed. She's helped the league reach millions of TV viewers while being at the forefront of change for league-wide ticket and overall merchandise sales.

Clark is one of the few athletes in the world who's helped shift an entire league, proudly holding the "box office" title.