Sure, I am a huge CC fan—after all, she was the reason I started following the WNBA. When Caitlin Clark’s name first started trending nationally, it was impossible to ignore her gravity. Her jaw-dropping range, her confidence, and her unapologetic swagger brought a whole new energy to women’s basketball. Like so many others, I was pulled into the league because of her. The headlines, the highlights, the crowd reactions—Caitlin was electric. And in following her, I found myself entering a world that was so much more than a single player. What started with one superstar opened up a league full of talent, passion, and fierce competition.
That’s why now, even though Caitlin is still one of my favorites and someone I’ll always respect, I find myself also rooting for another standout: Sabrina Ionescu.
At first, it might seem strange. Aren’t they technically rivals? Don’t they represent different storylines, different legacies? But the WNBA is so much more than rivalries—it’s a celebration of athletic excellence, and fans are allowed to love more than one player. That’s the beauty of truly becoming a fan of the game, not just a person.
Caitlin’s college career at Iowa was the gateway. It was impossible not to get swept up in the drama of her deep NCAA tournament runs, the way she shattered records and expectations. Her presence forced the basketball world to pay attention—selling out arenas, breaking viewership records, and changing the way people talked about women’s hoops. She made the casual fan stop and watch. And for many of us, she made us want to stay.
And staying meant learning more. Following the WNBA meant seeing the vets who had paved the way. It meant watching legends like Diana Taurasi, legends still writing their chapters like Breanna Stewart, and discovering players with quieter but equally powerful impacts. Among those, Sabrina Ionescu stood out.
Sabrina’s story is compelling in its own right. A No. 1 overall pick out of Oregon, she was already building her own myth long before Clark entered the league. Triple-doubles in college were routine for her. She wasn’t just flashy—she was effective. And she played with a fire that burned just as brightly, even if it wasn’t always as spotlighted. Her early seasons in New York were disrupted by injury, but she fought through setbacks with grit and maturity. The Liberty’s rise over the last couple of years is partly due to her leadership and consistency. Watching her develop into a steady, composed, and dangerous player on one of the league’s top teams has been inspiring.
There’s also something deeply satisfying about watching Sabrina find her place among other stars. In a league stacked with talent, the way she complements players like Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton shows how smart her game is. She doesn’t need the ball constantly to be effective, though she can absolutely take over when needed. Her shooting is deadly, and her basketball IQ makes her one of the most dynamic guards in the league. Her three-point contest performance in 2023, where she scored a record 37 points in the final round, was one of those moments that instantly became iconic. She didn’t just win; she obliterated the competition.
So yes, I came into the WNBA because of Caitlin Clark. She lit the spark. But now that spark has become something bigger. I watch for the late-night West Coast games, for the storylines that develop over a long season, and for the matchups that mean something. I care about team standings, about playoff implications, and yes, about how players like Sabrina show up in clutch moments. I want to see how both she and Caitlin evolve—how they grow, push each other, and redefine what’s possible.
Rooting for Sabrina doesn’t mean abandoning Caitlin. In fact, it’s the opposite. It means recognizing that this league is not a one-woman show. It’s a galaxy of stars, each with their own gravity. Some burn hot and fast; others smolder with the steady brilliance of a veteran. Both are beautiful. Both deserve admiration.
There’s also a deeper truth here: the WNBA isn’t just about performance on the court. It’s about identity, representation, and community. Caitlin brings a whole new wave of fans, many of whom had never watched a women’s pro game before. That matters. But Sabrina brings something equally crucial—she’s a bridge between generations, between hype and humility, between spotlight and substance. Her advocacy, her consistency, and her ability to stay grounded in high-pressure environments make her the kind of role model this league thrives on.
That’s why I root for Sabrina. She’s a quiet storm. She doesn’t always demand the spotlight, but when it shines on her, she never flinches. She shows up. She leads. And in this era of rising attention, when every move is dissected and every game analyzed, her calm intensity feels like an anchor.
This doesn’t mean fans have to pick sides. It’s not Caitlin or Sabrina—it can be Caitlin and Sabrina. You can admire Caitlin’s fearlessness and also respect Sabrina’s patience and poise. You can cheer for Caitlin’s transition into the pro game, with all the challenges and noise that come with it, while also appreciating how Sabrina has quietly built her legacy year by year.
In fact, watching them compete is part of the fun. When Indiana faces New York, there’s an extra charge. It’s not just about individual matchups—it’s about systems, team dynamics, coaching decisions, and how each player responds to pressure. Caitlin and Sabrina are both elite in their own ways. Their skill sets differ, but their goals are aligned: to win, to elevate their teams, and to leave their mark on the league.
This kind of multifaceted fandom is the future of the WNBA. As the league continues to grow—breaking attendance records, expanding into new markets, and finally getting the mainstream respect it has long deserved—it needs fans who aren’t just loyal to one name. It needs fans who appreciate the full landscape, who understand how special this moment in women’s sports really is. And that means recognizing greatness wherever it appears.
So yes, I’ll always be grateful to Caitlin Clark. She opened the door. She made it impossible not to care. Her journey is just beginning, and I’m excited to see where it takes her. But my fandom has grown deeper than one player. I now find myself analyzing matchups, looking up stats, listening to postgame interviews, and rooting for the players who embody the spirit of the game. Sabrina Ionescu is one of those players.
She’s earned that respect. Through her leadership, her resilience, and her relentless commitment to improving, she’s become a cornerstone of the league. And she’s doing it in a way that inspires not just young girls dreaming of their future, but fans like me—people who thought they were following one story, only to discover there were so many more worth telling.
In the end, this isn’t just about Clark or Ionescu. It’s about the league itself. It’s about falling in love with basketball again. It’s about realizing that women’s sports are not a niche—they’re a force. And once you really start watching, once you start paying attention, there’s no going back.
So yes, I’m a huge CC fan. I always will be. But that love opened up a whole new world for me. And now, as I cheer for Sabrina, I know this isn’t a contradiction—it’s a celebration. Because loving the WNBA means loving it all: the stars, the stories, and the game.
