When it comes to professional basketball players who were hyped to the moon before going pro and actually lived up to it, the list is surprisingly small. Just look at the NBA’s recent number-one picks, who were supposed to be the next big thing. Zion Williamson, for instance, was hyped as the second coming of Shaquille O’Neal, and the excitement was off the charts when he was first drafted. Unfortunately, his inability to manage his weight has led to ongoing issues, and to this day, Zion has yet to play a full season without suffering injuries.

Before Zion, there was Ben Simmons. If you remember, Ben was hyped as the next LeBron James, with the media pushing that narrative hard. Now, I say this with respect, but hey, LeBron, we’re good, bro—you can go. At this point, it seems like Ben might be out of the league before LeBron even retires.

Then there was Anthony Davis, “The Brow.” Davis came into the league with sky-high expectations. For context, the guy was so highly regarded that he made the 2012 Olympic team before even playing a single NBA game. Now, while Davis has achieved significant success in the league, including multiple All-NBA First Team selections and a championship, some might argue he’s still fallen short of the initial hype. After all, when a 39-year-old LeBron is still the best player on the Lakers in 2024, it’s hard to argue otherwise.

On the other hand, Victor Wembanyama has the potential to live up to the hype, but it’s still early in his career. While he has shown flashes of brilliance on both ends of the court, doing things we’ve never seen before, the reality is that the San Antonio Spurs went from 22 wins and 60 losses in 2023 without him to 22 wins and 60 losses in 2024 with him. The point is, the list of players who were massively hyped and delivered, especially right away, is incredibly short.

For the first time in a long time, though, there’s someone in basketball turning heads like never before—someone doing the unthinkable: Caitlin Clark. She’s putting the finishing touches on what has been one of the greatest rookie seasons in WNBA history. The year 2024 was a standout for basketball, largely thanks to this one player—Caitlin Clark.

In college basketball, Caitlin Clark achieved incredible milestones. She led the league in both scoring and assists for multiple seasons, shattered Steph Curry’s record for most three-pointers in a single season, and scored more points than anyone in NCAA history, men’s or women’s. The records she broke and the numbers she put up were nothing short of incredible. Naturally, the hype followed—and there was a lot of it.

Everything Caitlin has been able to do at Iowa is amazing. When you combine her scoring, which is unmatched in the women’s game, with her assist numbers—she’s sixth all-time in assists and leading the nation in assists this year—it’s clear she’s one of the best offensive players the women’s college game has ever seen.

On top of the hype, Caitlin Clark entered professional sports in today’s social media-driven world, making it likely that no athlete has ever faced as much scrutiny in their rookie season as she has. LeBron James had the world’s hype behind him in 2003, but back then, the iPhone and social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and podcasts didn’t even exist yet. So when LeBron first entered the league, the technology for constant worldwide scrutiny simply wasn’t there. For Caitlin, however, everything was in place—the massive hype, the constant scrutiny of social media, and plenty of hate, too.

When it comes to the pressure Caitlin faced, no player before her carried a heavier burden. Sure, there were huge expectations for Victor Wembanyama with his 7’4″ frame and guard-like skills, but was there any real hate? Sure, LeBron faced some jealousy from teammates worried about him taking their spots, but was there widespread hate? The answer to both questions is no. Caitlin, on the other hand, faced it all.

Despite the immense pressure from all sides—expectations from her incredible college career, the weight of being the number-one pick, the unusual hate directed her way, and the constant scrutiny of social media—Caitlin Clark made her WNBA debut on March 14, 2024. Her team, the Indiana Fever, started the season with just one win in their first nine games, giving her haters plenty of ammunition. At that point, there was even chatter about another player, Angel Reese, being in the running for Rookie of the Year, with Reese’s impressive double-double streak drawing attention.

At this point, Caitlin could have folded under the pressure and coasted through an average season. But that’s not what she did. Instead, she rose to the challenge and responded to adversity with fire. The Caitlin Clark we saw dominate the NCAA began to emerge in the WNBA, this time with better teammates around her. Despite the hate, both verbal and physical, she fought back where it mattered most—on the court.

They could say she wasn’t good enough. They could play rough, physical basketball against her, but she continued to fill up the stat sheet, play winning basketball, and lead her team to victory. What’s even wilder is that despite everything she’s accomplished, the hate kept coming. But when you lead the league in assists and rank among the top scorers, that’s called domination.

By the end of her rookie season, Caitlin Clark wasn’t just in the Rookie of the Year conversation—she was entering the MVP race. She set multiple rookie records, including most points, most assists, and most three-pointers made in a single season. She also led her rookie class in steals, player efficiency rating, and free-throw percentage, while ranking third in blocks and rebounds.

Caitlin Clark has been nothing short of phenomenal. She not only led her team back to the playoffs—something the Indiana Fever hadn’t accomplished since 2016—but since their rough start, they’ve been the fourth-best team in the league.

Her impact goes beyond the court as well. Caitlin shattered attendance records, making the 2024 season the most-watched in WNBA history. Her influence has also contributed to WNBA players finally traveling on charter planes instead of commercial flights. Thanks to Caitlin, the lives of WNBA players are improving, and the league is drawing in more attention and revenue than ever before.

Caitlin Clark is changing the game, much like Michael Jordan elevated the NBA, Wayne Gretzky revolutionized hockey, or Tiger Woods transformed golf. While she has yet to win a championship, she’s exceeded every expectation placed on her and is already leaving an indelible mark on the WNBA.