Caitlin Clark, the WNBA phenom is a household name. Her athletic prowess is not in question and is, of course due to hours of  grueling practice, workouts, and training. Yet her ascent into the world of professional sports is also due to the relentless pursuit of hundreds of female athletes that date back to the years when even getting a mention in the local newspaper was a feat because women’s sports were really not considered competitive, interesting, or even worth awarding much of a  salary.

Luckily, those days are gone. Title IX and the women who worked for that legislation have paved the way for today’s athletes.

 One of the pioneers of women’s sports, post Title IX, is FWISD’s Director of Athletics, Dr. Lisa Langston. She recently talked with  the Pantherette about her amazing career, the future of the WNBA, and how she has inspired others to play just like her. 

Langston is in the Texas A&M hall of fame and has accomplishments including First Team All-SWC for basketball in 1985, SWC player of the week in 1984, and Third place in 100m hurdles in 1986. Dr. Langston looks back on her career and compares what the A&M women’s team has now compared to the 80’s. “When I go down to A&M for our women’s basketball reunion and I look at what they have up there, you know, they have their own weight room.” 

Since women’s sports have grown over time, Langston said  “you’re gonna get bigger, faster, and  stronger players because they have the things they need.” Langston talked about all the media attention stars like Caitlin Clark have received. “The thing is, Caitlin is a great player, but we’ve had great players.” There was not as much coverage for great players like Langston and others when she played. When asking Dr. Langston how Caitlin has handled the media she said 

“Caitlin, I think she’s handled it as well as possible.” she also says “I think that her game will be able to translate to the WNBA.”

Dr. Langston grew up playing the best as she attempted to improve. She played at her local rec center with former NBA players Dennis Rodman and Michael Williams. Langston says “When Dennis was there I always knew he was going to pick me when we played.” 

Dr. Langston is a former teacher and coach at Paschal High School and told her players, “if the only time you play is when you’re with your team, you’re not going to improve as much as you could on your own time.”

 Dr. Langston said that Clark’s game will change as she transitions to the  WNBA team versus her career as a college player. “Clark’s game will evolve  to something more, because the one thing she’s not going to do is put up 30 shots again.” This she said is due to the fact that the WNBA will stress more team play.

Caitlin Clark is from West Des Moines, Iowa and attended Dowling Catholic High school and she immediately made an impact on her high school basketball team. Clark put up spectacular numbers in her high school career and she gained notice by Iowa women’s head basketball coach Lisa Bluder. Clark’s amazing range from behind the three point line gained her a massive following because it was something the women’s sport had never seen before. 

Clark burst onto the scene for the Hawkeyes averaging 26.6 points per game in just her freshman season. In her junior season she started to gain national attention and the Hawkeyes made it to the biggest stage, the national championship versus LSU. Unfortunately the Hawkeyes lost this game but it was just the start for Clark as she had her whole senior season ahead of her.

 Clark’s senior season was her best of her college career as she put up amazing averages, almost averaging 32 points a game. Iowa made a deep run into the tournament but had to face an undefeated South Carolina Gamecocks squad that looked unbeatable. Iowa put up a good fight against them in the national championship but fell 87-75. 

This season was a major jump for women’s basketball as reported by KERA the women’s national championship peaked at 24 million viewers and averaged 18.1 million viewers, meanwhile the men’s national championship had an average viewership of 14.82 million. Women’s basketball is gaining attention and respect with the competitiveness and talent that many teams have to offer. 

Overall women’s basketball has grown so much over the past years and will continue to do so with aspiring players like Caitlin Clark who has her whole career ahead of her in the WNBA. Paschal’s women athletes future is bright as well thanks to the athletes who walk among our student body such as Dr. Lisa Langston…who  helped pave the way.