LeBron James Praises Women's College Basketball Stars for Transforming the Game's Popularity

Over the past two years, women's college basketball has seen a surge in popularity, captivating the sports world. Renowned Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, a fervent supporter of the sport, has put forth a compelling theory regarding the unprecedented interest in women's college basketball.

The Impact of Stars

James is of the opinion that the collegiate game has been revolutionized by luminaries such as Caitlin Clark from Iowa and Angel Reese from LSU. In a recent post-game interview, he articulated, "I don't think there's much difference between the men's and women's game when it comes to college basketball. I think the popularity comes in with the icons that they have in the women's game."

"You look at Angel Reese, you look at JuJu [Watkins], you look at Caitlin Clark, you look at Paige [Bueckers]. You look at the young girl that's at Iowa State, the freshman there [Audi Crooks]. You look at [Cameron] Brink at Stanford. And that's just to name a few. And the freshman that's at Notre Dame [Hannah Hidalgo]." - LeBron James

Building an Iconic Legacy

Moreover, James highlighted that one of the most alluring aspects is that women's college basketball stars are unable to immediately enter the WNBA Draft. Seniors like Clark and Brink are anticipated to be among the top picks in the 2024 WNBA Draft, accentuating the ability to establish a lasting legacy at the collegiate level.

"You're able to build a real iconic legacy at a program. And that's what we all love about it. That's what we all love. We love the girl's game because of that moment you actually get to see those girls [build to]. That's what makes the girl's Final Four and the Elite Eight so great." - LeBron James

The Road to the Finals

The excitement continues to mount as the Women's Final Four is poised to commence in Cleveland. No. 1 seed South Carolina is set to clash with No. 3 seed NC State, while No. 1 seed Iowa will take on No. 3 seed UConn. The prospect of witnessing premier players like Clark, Bueckers, and Kamilla Cardoso in the national title game has further intensified the anticipation surrounding the NCAA Tournament.