The presence of women in the NBA has increased dramatically over the past decade. Becky Hammon replaced Gregg Popovich during the 2020 game, marking the league's first female coach as head coach. Lindsey Harding just won the NBA G League Coach of the Year award as bench boss for the Stockton Kings.
In any case, women have not yet been on the same court as men in the NBA. Could the arrival of Caitlin Clark change that?
The Iowa State superstar has proven time and time again that she is on a whole other level than most of her peers. She is part of a generation of players who will undoubtedly be the first drafted when the 2024 WNBA Draft takes place in late April.
Clark ushered in a long-awaited and important movement in women's sports and became a staple on television. Her dominance against women has led some to wonder where the limits of her Clark-like talents lie. Could a talented athlete like her play in the NBA?
Before we continue the conversation about whether or not her game will transfer to the men's team, the first obstacle that potentially stands in the way is to see if she can make it to the highest level of professional basketball.
Here's more to know about whether Clark could play in the NBA and the history of women in the league.
BENDER: Clark's signature logo 3-point show returns for Final Four
Could Caitlin Clark play in the NBA?
Technically speaking, the NBA has no rules prohibiting women from playing in the league.
The NBA is a professional basketball organization, but nowhere in the league's bylaws does it say it's strictly for male players. Therefore, there are virtually no limits to how Clark can join the NBA.
Of course, there are many other factors to consider. The scale of the matches is the largest, simply because male players are taller, heavier, and stronger.
Clark is by no means a physical monster in the women's game, with a 6-0 record. That would put her on the short side of the NBA, with only 14 players going 6-0 or lower in the 2023-24 season.
More information: List of NCAA records broken by Caitlin Clark
Has a woman ever been drafted into the NBA?
Only one woman was officially drafted into the NBA. That was Lucia Harris, who made history when the New Orleans Jazz selected her in the 1977 NBA draft. After a stellar collegiate career at Delta State, New Orleans acquired the center in the seventh round with the 137th pick.
Harris reportedly did not participate in the team's tryouts because she was pregnant at the time.
Although Harris is the first woman to be officially drafted, she is not the first woman an NBA team has attempted to draft. In 1969, the San Francisco Warriors wanted to draft Dennis Long in the 13th round. However, this nomination was invalidated by the league.
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban made headlines in 2013 when he said he would “consider” drafting Brittany Greiner, then a standout player at Baylor.
“If she's the best on the board, I'm going to take her,” Cuban said. “I've thought about it. I've thought about it already. Do I want to do it? For now, I'm leaning towards yes. Just to see if she can do it. Unless I give someone else a chance. You never know, and it’s not like a late 50s draft pick is likely to get it.”
Ultimately, Dallas chose not to select Griner, and Griner joined the WNBA.
