Bill Simmons shares Caitlin Clark stance in stark NBA comparison – ‘not even a debate’

Bill Simmons has claimed there is “no debate” as he asserted that WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark is a “bigger star” than many of her NBA peers.

The Indiana Fever point guard made the successful transition to the professional stage after she was selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 Draft. From there, the 22-year-old broke 11 league records as she helped the Indianapolis outfit reach the playoffs before being named the Rookie of the Year.

The former Iowa college sensation’s star power also helped the WNBA draw its best ratings in 25 years, with games yielding an average of 657,000 viewers in 2024. Now, The Ringer broadcaster Simmons has opined that the Fever hero currently boasts a more significant profile than any of her contemporaries in the NBA under the age of 30.

Speaking during a recording of his “The Bill Simmons Podcast, he said: “Is Caitlin Clark a bigger under-30 star than any under-30 star in the NBA?” as Chuck Klosterman then replied: “Yes,” before Simmons duly remarked: “I think she is too. I don’t even think that’s a debate.

“I literally did not care about women’s college basketball 10 years ago, in any way, shape, or form. So I think some things have just moved toward the quality of play is more fun to watch, but she seems to be some sort of catalyst that is just, it’s like before and after, and now we’re in the after.”

Simmons went on to contend that Clark’s route to stardom has helped her to build up a head of steam in terms of her fame. He added: “You have this history with these women’s players in college for three years, you kind of have a sense of their game. So when they come to the WNBA, you know what they can do.”

These comments come after NBA commissioner Adam Silver previously paid tribute to Clark for her transformative impact on the popularity of the women’s game. He said: “Caitlin Clark set the world on fire, not just this community. She’s brought so much attention to the entire league. People are seeing how deep this league is, how good the qualify of basketball is… It’s wonderful to see.”

Meanwhile, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert also assessed Clark’s influence, as she praised fellow starlets such as Angel Reese for bringing attention to the league. She said: “She’s clearly an unbelievable player. Came in with an unbelievable following, has brought a lot of new fans to the league

“If you look at our historic season in terms of our attendance, viewership – Caitlin, Angel Reese, too, Rickea Jackson, Cameron Brink. This class of rookies, we will be talking about them a generation from now.”

Engelbert added: “No league is ever about one player. That one player could get hurt, or whatever. So I think it’s just to give recognition that in sports, people watch for compelling content and rivalries, and you can’t do that alone as one person.”