In a moment that sent shockwaves through the basketball world, high school phenom and projected NBA superstar Cooper Flagg stunned fans, media, and fellow athletes by naming Caitlin Clark—yes, the electrifying rookie of the Indiana Fever—to his WNBA Mount Rushmore. The bold declaration came during a recent interview that quickly went viral, not because of the usual flashy quote or boastful statement, but because Flagg, a future face of men’s basketball, dared to disrupt tradition and elevate a current player still in the early stages of her WNBA journey to the status of a legend.
Clark, who has only just begun carving her path in the WNBA, was placed alongside WNBA immortals in Flagg’s top four, a list traditionally reserved for long-retired icons like Lisa Leslie, Diana Taurasi, Tamika Catchings, and Sue Bird. Flagg’s move wasn’t just a nod to Clark’s explosive play—it was a full-throated tribute to a player he believes is already reshaping the legacy of women’s basketball before our eyes.
“I don’t care what people say about how long she’s been in the league,” Flagg said in the now-viral interview. “Caitlin Clark’s impact is generational. The skill, the swagger, the pressure she carries—it’s something we haven’t seen before. She’s on my Mount Rushmore. Easy.”
That comment alone was enough to ignite a firestorm on social media. Instantly, hashtags like #ClarkRushmore and #Flagg4Clark began trending across platforms. Critics and supporters went to battle over whether Flagg was prematurely anointing a player who had only a few dozen WNBA games under her belt. Yet amidst the debate, one thing was clear: Cooper Flagg’s words gave voice to what many fans have quietly believed—that Caitlin Clark is not just “one to watch,” but one who is already changing the game.
To understand the gravity of Flagg’s statement, you have to consider who he is. At just 17, Flagg is considered one of the most exciting basketball prospects in years. A freakish blend of athleticism, IQ, and intensity, Flagg has been drawing comparisons to generational NBA talents before even stepping foot on a college court. He has endorsements lining up, interviews stacked, and an entire basketball nation tracking his every move. So when he talks, people listen.
That’s what made his WNBA Mount Rushmore list so headline-grabbing. Asked to name his top four WNBA players of all time, Flagg went with Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, Lisa Leslie—and Caitlin Clark. In many ways, this list was a blend of classic and contemporary greatness. Taurasi is the league’s all-time leading scorer and a cornerstone of its popularity. Moore, one of the most dominant two-way players ever, walked away from the game in her prime to pursue social justice. Leslie was the first player to dunk in a WNBA game and a trailblazer from the league’s inception. And then came Clark—the only active rookie on the list, whose inclusion broke every unspoken rule about what it means to be a “Mount Rushmore” figure.
For Flagg, that rule-breaking was exactly the point.
“Look, if Mount Rushmore is about impact, then Caitlin belongs. If it’s about who changed the way we see the game, she’s already done that. I’m not waiting 10 years to say what’s obvious right now,” he explained.
Indeed, Clark’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric. From her record-smashing career at Iowa, where she redefined the role of the point guard and broke NCAA scoring records with deep threes and dazzling assists, to her highly anticipated arrival in the WNBA, Clark has done everything at hyper speed. Her jersey sales soared. Attendance numbers surged. TV ratings for Fever games shattered records. And perhaps most importantly, young girls and boys across the country began watching women’s basketball with newfound excitement.
Still, the leap from rookie sensation to all-time great is one rarely made without years of accolades to back it. Critics of Flagg’s pick were quick to pounce, calling it premature, disrespectful to veterans, and more about hype than substance. But others countered that Flagg’s list was less about stat sheets and more about the narrative power that Clark has already harnessed.
“Caitlin Clark has already changed the business and culture of the WNBA,” said analyst Cheryl Miller during a panel discussion. “You can argue all you want about how long she’s played, but you can’t deny her impact. And frankly, it’s refreshing to see a young male athlete recognize that in real time.”
That aspect—the crossover appreciation between the men’s and women’s game—is perhaps the most powerful part of Flagg’s tribute. For decades, WNBA players have fought for respect, visibility, and parity. To have a rising male superstar elevate a female athlete without being prompted, without an endorsement deal at play, and without hedging his words—that matters.
“This isn’t some PR stunt,” ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne wrote. “This is a generational voice saying, ‘I see you, I value you, and I consider you legendary.’ That kind of respect from peer to peer, from future NBA to present WNBA—it shifts the culture.”
And Clark, for her part, responded with humility and class. When told of Flagg’s comment during a postgame press conference, the Fever guard smiled and shook her head.
“That’s incredibly kind of him,” Clark said. “I’ve watched Cooper play—he’s insanely talented. To be mentioned in that kind of company, especially by someone like him, it’s surreal. But for me, I’m just focused on working hard and earning that kind of respect every single day.”
Still, for someone who has quickly become the face of a franchise—and arguably the face of a league—Clark’s influence is undeniable. From the young kids wearing No. 22 jerseys in every arena, to the veteran players now playing in front of sellout crowds they never experienced in their prime, her effect is immediate and deep. And Flagg’s tribute, while bold, may simply be acknowledging the truth before the rest of the world is ready to say it out loud.
The buzz around Flagg’s Mount Rushmore pick also highlights a broader shift happening in basketball culture: the collapsing walls between men’s and women’s hoops. Once separated by a chasm of media coverage, sponsorship, and public attention, both games are now coexisting on a much more equal footing in the hearts and minds of Gen Z athletes and fans.
“Cooper Flagg grew up in the era of social media, where basketball highlights don’t have a gender,” said WNBA legend Swin Cash. “If you can ball, you can ball. And Caitlin Clark? She can ball. She’s not just inspiring girls—she’s inspiring hoopers, period.”
As debates rage on about whether Flagg was too hasty in his declaration, or whether Clark has truly earned such elite recognition, one thing is certain: this moment will be remembered. Not just as a bold quote or a viral clip, but as a generational intersection—when a rising star in the men’s game used his spotlight to shine a little brighter on a woman redefining hers.
In many ways, it speaks to a larger truth about sports in 2025. Legacy is no longer something you wait decades to validate. Sometimes, it’s something you feel. And Cooper Flagg, with all his promise and precocious wisdom, felt it.
