ESPN Executive Calls Caitlin Clark 'Gateway Drug' For Women's Sports
An ESPN programming executive used pointed language at a sports media conference last week to describe Caitlin Clark's broader impact on women's sports as she was called a "gateway drug" for new fans while arguing the growth now extends well beyond any single player.
"I say this in quite literally the most positive way possible: Caitlin's a gateway drug for some people to women's sports," said Susie Piotrkowski, ESPN's VP of women's sports programming and espnW, speaking at a Front Office Sports event in Nashville. "If that brought you in, I'm going to keep you here."
Piotrkowski pointed to WNBA viewership data as evidence the audience has broadened. Clark suffered an injury in July and did not return for the remainder of the season, yet ESPN still recorded its most-watched WNBA regular season and playoffs. Overall viewership rose 3%, though the four most-watched games of the year were all Indiana Fever contests played before Clark's injury.
"I think every single one of us can say what Caitlin has done for our business is incomparable," Piotrkowski added. "However, people are coming because the product is excellent. And they are not leaving."
Basketball broadcaster Ros Gold-Onwude, appearing on the same panel, credited Clark while emphasizing the wider trend.
"I think just the entire ecosystem of women's basketball is rising," she said.
Gold-Onwude also addressed broadcast standards, arguing that increased attention on women's sports has exposed a lack of preparation among some commentators - from mispronouncing athlete names to basic factual errors.
"Not everyone was ready to discuss elite female athletes properly," she said. "You'd be surprised the discomfort in that."
The discussion coincided with ESPN announcing "Women's Sports Sundays," a nine-week programming block replacing the Sunday Night Baseball time slot with women's sports games and studio content.
"This is our Monday Night Football," Piotrkowski said of the initiative.
