Caitlin Clark joining NBC Sports for its new Sunday night NBA pregame show
The crossover appeal of Caitlin Clark is officially heading to the NBA broadcast booth. In a move that bridges the gap between the WNBA’s surging popularity and the NBA’s premier media landscape, NBC Sports announced on Tuesday that the Indiana Fever superstar will join its coverage team as a special contributor for the network’s highly anticipated return to NBA broadcasting.
Clark is set to make her debut on Basketball Night in America, the network's new flagship pregame show, this coming Sunday. She will join a star-studded studio team led by host Maria Taylor and featuring NBA legends Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, and Tracy McGrady. Her first assignment places her on the biggest stage in the sport: Madison Square Garden, where the New York Knicks will host LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers for the launch of Sunday Night Basketball.
According to NBC Sports executive producer Sam Flood, the decision to bring Clark into the fold was driven by her undeniable impact on the sport's culture. Flood noted that there is "no more iconic figure in basketball" right now, making her a natural fit for NBC’s aggressive strategy to reclaim its status as a dominant NBA broadcaster. Clark, who has already reshaped viewership metrics in the WNBA, expressed excitement about working alongside Hall of Fame talent, calling her new colleagues "legends of the game."
The arrangement currently includes two marquee appearances. Following the Lakers-Knicks debut, Clark is scheduled to return to the desk on March 29, when the Knicks visit the Oklahoma City Thunder. This strategic hiring allows NBC to leverage Clark’s massive following during the WNBA offseason, creating a synergy that benefits both leagues. By integrating the face of women’s basketball into its top-tier NBA coverage, NBC is signaling that its new era of broadcasting—marking the return of the NBA to the network for the first time in over two decades—will rely heavily on cross-generational and cross-league star power.
For the NBA, having Clark analyze the men’s game adds a fresh, high-profile perspective to the traditional pregame format, potentially drawing her vast fanbase to Sunday night telecasts as the league approaches the postseason push.
Clark is set to make her debut on Basketball Night in America, the network's new flagship pregame show, this coming Sunday. She will join a star-studded studio team led by host Maria Taylor and featuring NBA legends Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, and Tracy McGrady. Her first assignment places her on the biggest stage in the sport: Madison Square Garden, where the New York Knicks will host LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers for the launch of Sunday Night Basketball.
According to NBC Sports executive producer Sam Flood, the decision to bring Clark into the fold was driven by her undeniable impact on the sport's culture. Flood noted that there is "no more iconic figure in basketball" right now, making her a natural fit for NBC’s aggressive strategy to reclaim its status as a dominant NBA broadcaster. Clark, who has already reshaped viewership metrics in the WNBA, expressed excitement about working alongside Hall of Fame talent, calling her new colleagues "legends of the game."
The arrangement currently includes two marquee appearances. Following the Lakers-Knicks debut, Clark is scheduled to return to the desk on March 29, when the Knicks visit the Oklahoma City Thunder. This strategic hiring allows NBC to leverage Clark’s massive following during the WNBA offseason, creating a synergy that benefits both leagues. By integrating the face of women’s basketball into its top-tier NBA coverage, NBC is signaling that its new era of broadcasting—marking the return of the NBA to the network for the first time in over two decades—will rely heavily on cross-generational and cross-league star power.
For the NBA, having Clark analyze the men’s game adds a fresh, high-profile perspective to the traditional pregame format, potentially drawing her vast fanbase to Sunday night telecasts as the league approaches the postseason push.
