Griner & Clark: Expanding the Women's Basketball Frontier Part II
NIL is allowing women's athletics to enter a new frontier by increasing awareness, investment and compensation.
Caitlin Clark has passed ‘Pistol’ Pete Maravich and now holds the NCAA all-time scoring record with 3,685 career points after scoring 35 points on her senior day to knock off No. 2 Ohio State.
In Part II of this series of how and why NIL is benefiting women’s athletics, I take a look at Clark’s achievement and look back at Brittney Griner’s career.
Clark Shatters Maravich Record
With seconds remaining in the first half, Iowa’s Caitlin Clark launched an insanely deep three. Logo deep. The kind of shot that drive coaches crazy until they go in.
Unlike her shot that broke the women’s record, Clark’s shot hit the front iron and clanked off. It actually turned into a worse case scenario as the Buckeyes ran a fast break and made a corner three for a six-point swing that cut the Iowa lead to five.
What happened next put Clark’s greatness on display.
She rocketed a near full court laser pass to Hannah Stuelke in stride right under the basket where she was fouled with three-tenths of a second left. Clark then drew a technical foul and the Hawkeyes hit four free throws—where Clark broke Maravich’s record—to wipe out any momentum the Buckeyes may have gained.
Nike immediately aired a commercial congratulating Clark, their client, on breaking the record. Jake from StateFarm was in the house with basketball legend Maya Moore. Prior to NIL, a brand would not support a college athlete in that capacity on their own volition or good will.
Now there is a tied mutual financial motivation for brands to continue to celebrate the success of their college athletes. This will have the most positive and dramatic impact for women’s sports.
In Part I of this series, I wrote how NIL is the ultimate tool for women to increase awareness, investment and compensation both individually and their sport.
But Clark’s chase reminded me of a different scoring title chase a near decade ago.
Brittney & Baylor
In 2013, Brittney Griner was trying to help lead Baylor to a second national title (perhaps undefeated again) in her senior season. She was also chasing Jackie Stiles (Missouri State) scoring record at the time of 3,393.
Griner came up 110 points short of the record and Baylor was upset in the Sweet 16.
The aftermath was a whirlwind.
Griner did not graduate in 2013 (she would in 2019) and was drafted No. 1 overall by the Phoenix Mercury.
ESPN then interviewed Griner and subsequently reported that Baylor and head coach Kim Mulkey had suppressed her sexuality during her time as a student-athlete. That caused a major rift between Griner, Mulkey, and Baylor.
It was one that was never resolved.
Brittney Griner Timeline
2012: Baylor, Griner wins NCAA Championship (40-0)
2013: Lady Bears upset in Sweet 16
2013: Mercury select Griner No. 1 overall
2013: Griner makes claims about Baylor surprising her sexuality
2014: Griner, Mercury win WNBA title
2015: Griner arrested for domestic violence
2019: Griner gets married
2020: Griner speaks out against U.S. National anthem
April 25, 2021: Kim Mulkey leaves Baylor for LSU
Feb. 17 to Dec. 8 2022: Griner detained, arrested, convicted and released from Russian prison
Feb 18, 2024: Baylor retires Griner’s No. 42
Then Russia Happened
Setting aside the politics for a minute—I reported on it in my 247 Sports columns here and here—the question you must be asking is how does this relate to NIL?
A few weeks ago, I was in Waco where Baylor essentially reenacted the parable of the prodigal daughter by welcoming Griner back to campus and retiring her number. And I reflected on the following three lessons as it relates to NIL:
Be Authentic
Live your truth.
BG is beloved for her athletic prowess yes, but for all of the joy that she displayed both on and off the court. Long-boarding to class, dancing and laughing in moments where so many others crack under pressure.
It endeared her to Baylor fans, the basketball community at large and so many more. It is the reason why her legend shines so brightly even in the aftermath of everything.
Be Selective
About how you share your story and with who.
Griner was interviewed on campus, but it was mainly about her Baylor career. All the other topics in the timeline: her sexuality; domestic assault; disagreement with Mulkey; her perspective on the national anthem; and most importantly Russia were not even pretended to be discussed.
However, it was made mentioned that there was a contractual agreement of how the interview would proceed. More than likely, Griner is waiting to share some of those details in her upcoming book or other avenues where she can control, and monetize, the narrative.
Time is Short
It can be stripped from you without warning.
Let’s not sweep under the rug what happened both at Baylor and in Russia.
Griner was excommunicated by a community who she helped rake in millions of dollars for and the perhaps the best women’s college basketball team of all time. For basically no good reason.
Then as a new Baylor regime was slowly trying to figure out how to honor her, she was unexpectedly arrested in a foreign country to be used as a political war-time bargaining chip for what would be at best a misdemeanor in the states.
It was nearly too late as Griner was sentenced to a decade in a far away Russian prison. Not just a prison, but a labor camp.
Who knows what would have happened during that time.
And that is the cruel fact about time. You always think you have more than you do.
There is not enough time to allow yourself to get transfixed in petty squabbles that prevent you from living and enjoying life. Find a way to get past any differences so you can live life to the fullest.
BG easily would have been a multi-millionaire in her career at Baylor alone. It is significant because NIL would have eliminated the need for her to play basketball overseas. Unfortunately that was not the case.
NIL is now helping provide women’s basketball players the flexibility of having options, and ultimately freedom.