By TIM REYNOLDS
Caitlin Clark is headed to the NBA, at the least for a few nights.
NBC introduced Tuesday that Clark — the Indiana Fever star with an infinite following throughout the recreation — is becoming a member of the community’s pregame protection for its debut of “Sunday Night time Basketball” this weekend when the Los Angeles Lakers play the New York Knicks at Madison Sq. Backyard.
It’s set to be a two-night gig for Clark, who plans to return to NBC in one other pregame position on March 29 when the Knicks go to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder.
“There’s no extra iconic determine in basketball within the girls’s recreation proper now, or the sport typically,” Sam Flood, govt producer for NBC Sports activities, instructed The Related Press. “So, we stated, ‘let’s have an even bigger dialog.’”
It’s a logical match: NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Company, and Clark introduced that she entered a advertising and marketing relationship with Xfinity in March 2024. Clark has executed some tv work earlier than, together with a cameo on NBC’s “Saturday Night time Reside” in April 2024.
NBC is asking Clark “a particular contributor” who will be part of the “Basketball Night time in America” studio crew of host Maria Taylor and analysts Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady — all Basketball Corridor of Famers — for pregame commentary.
“I’m actually excited to be a part of the Basketball Night time in America crew this season,” Clark stated in an announcement launched by NBC. “Carmelo, Vince, and Tracy are legends of the sport and Maria is a real skilled. Will probably be actually enjoyable to hitch them a number of instances this season.”
Clark’s resume is stellar: She is a two-time WNBA All-Star and was an All-WNBA first-team choose in 2024 on her method to successful rookie of the 12 months after being the league’s No. 1 draft choice that season. At Iowa, Clark turned the all-time main scorer in NCAA Division I historical past with 3,951 factors and was the AP’s school participant of the 12 months twice — in addition to the AP’s feminine athlete of the 12 months in 2024.
Flood stated he’s satisfied Clark can deal with this new position.
“She’s had cameras pointed at her for years, and he or she’s actually at all times placed on a present with a basketball in her hand. And after a recreation ends, she’s at all times an ideal interview,” Flood stated. “She’s at all times so considerate in every part she says. And to have the power to try this on this platform, with this crew, it’s going to be a whole lot of enjoyable to take heed to it. That’s the fantastic thing about who she is.”
Clark has dabbled in sports activities broadcasting earlier than, going viral as soon as for making an attempt to do some play-by-play whereas watching the Philadelphia Phillies, not figuring out Fever teammate Lexie Hull was secretly recording her.
The Phillies gave Clark rave evaluations and even invited her to return attempt it for actual. And now, NBC is giving her that chance as effectively.
“She’s going to be in a basketball area, like she at all times is, and in her consolation zone — which is on the court docket speaking concerning the sport she loves and the game that she shines in,” Flood stated. “So, what higher place for her to debut than in Madison Sq. Backyard with this an ideal crew of expertise round her? We’re assured she’ll thrive, as a result of a basketball court docket is her second house.”
Clark was restricted to 13 video games due to harm final season with the Fever, who made it to the WNBA semifinals and fell to the eventual champion Las Vegas Aces. She returned to the court docket in December, collaborating in a camp with USA Basketball’s senior girls’s nationwide crew.
When she’ll play an actual recreation once more stays unclear: The WNBA and its gamers stay in a labor dispute that would threaten the 2026 season. Clark has made her ideas clear, saying final month that these talks are “the most important second” for the WNBA and that “there needs to be compromise on either side” to strike the suitable deal.
It’s unknown if she’s going to deal with labor issues Sunday. However Flood dropped one tease about what could be coming throughout Clark’s debut look.
“We’re hoping to have Caitlin with a basketball in her hand,” Flood stated.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
