Full Court Pressence
When the Mercantile Library welcomes Christine Brennan on July 30 for a conversation about On Her Game: Caitlin Clark and the Revolution in Women’s Sports, it won’t just be a literary event. It will be a snapshot of a cultural inflection point, one where the trajectory of women’s athletics, media coverage, and generational equity all intersect with the force of a no-look pass from the top of the key.
Clark, the sharp-shooting phenom from Iowa, isn’t simply setting records. She is drawing more eyes, selling more jerseys, and generating more headlines than almost anyone in the history of women’s basketball. Brennan’s book captures that rise, but it does more than tell Clark’s story. It offers a full-court press on the broader systems and stories that surround her, many of which have been decades in the making.
The Stats That Started It All
Caitlin Clark’s college career didn’t just light up scoreboards—it shifted the entire center of gravity for women’s basketball. During her senior year at the University of Iowa, her games repeatedly broke attendance records. Her 2024 NCAA title run became must-watch television, culminating in a championship game that drew more than 18 million viewers. That made it the most-viewed basketball game—men’s or women’s—since 2019. Her style of play was electric, but her impact was strategic. Suddenly, women’s basketball was no longer fighting for scraps. It was driving the main course.
When Clark joined the Indiana Fever as the WNBA’s number-one overall draft pick, the league experienced a surge in ticket sales, merchandise revenue, and national interest. Indiana’s away games became sellouts. Television ratings surged. Even casual fans who once only tuned in for March Madness started following the WNBA regular season. Her presence elevated not only her team, but also her opponents, who now played in front of sold-out arenas and received greater media coverage.
Brennan’s Inside Look
Christine Brennan is no stranger to the evolution of women’s sports. As one of the nation’s most respected sports journalists and a longtime advocate for gender equity in athletics, she brings decades of perspective to this story. In On Her Game, she explores how Clark’s rise didn’t occur in isolation. It emerged from a system shaped by Title IX, honed by generational progress, and still tethered to persistent inequities.
The book addresses everything from locker room dynamics to broadcast contracts. Brennan dives into how the WNBA responded to Clark’s arrival and what that says about the league’s infrastructure and marketing acumen. She also examines the tensions surrounding race and representation in women’s sports, highlighting the disparity in media attention between Clark and some of her Black counterparts who have been performing at elite levels for years.
The Olympic Controversy
Perhaps the most explosive chapter in Brennan’s account revolves around the 2024 Paris Olympics. Despite her record-breaking performances and massive popularity, Clark was not selected to represent the United States in 5-on-5 Olympic play. The decision sparked widespread debate. Some viewed it as a missed opportunity for global promotion. Others defended the choice, citing team chemistry and international experience.
Brennan explores both sides with precision. She speaks to players, coaches, and insiders, offering insight into how the decision was made and what it reflects about the state of USA Basketball. For readers and attendees alike, this isn’t just about whether Clark deserved a roster spot. It’s about what the selection process says about who gets to carry the flag for women’s sports on the world stage.
More Than One Athlete
Clark may be the face of a movement, but she is not its only force. Brennan is careful to contextualize her influence within a broader wave of progress. Athletes like A’ja Wilson, Angel Reese, and Arike Ogunbowale continue to shape the game with skill, charisma, and cultural capital. The revolution in women’s sports is not a single storyline. It is a shared shift. Clark’s emergence has helped draw new attention, but sustaining that attention will require a more inclusive and expansive approach.
This includes media networks investing in women’s coverage beyond highlight reels. It involves college and professional programs providing the same resources and infrastructure as their male counterparts. It means engaging fans year-round, not just during tournament season. Brennan uses Clark’s story as an entry point into these conversations, reminding readers and audiences that the work of equity in sports doesn’t stop at the buzzer.
The July 30 event at the Mercantile Library is an opportunity to explore these questions in real time with one of the leading voices in American sports journalism. Brennan’s talk will unpack not only the content of the book, but also the evolving dynamics around athletes, media, and institutions. Attendees can expect a candid discussion on where women’s sports are headed, what barriers remain, and how individuals—from fans to journalists to sponsors—can support the next chapter of growth.
It is rare for a single athlete to shift the conversation so dramatically. It is even rarer for that shift to be captured so thoughtfully in real time. Christine Brennan’s On Her Game does exactly that, and her Cincinnati appearance promises to be a landmark moment in a summer already filled with milestones.
If the revolution in women’s sports is truly underway, this is one of the places where it will be defined. Not with a whistle or a shot clock, but with questions, context, and a challenge to carry the momentum forward.