{"id":576977,"date":"2026-02-02T09:13:13","date_gmt":"2026-02-02T09:13:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/576977\/"},"modified":"2026-02-02T09:13:13","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T09:13:13","slug":"caitlin-clark-makes-nbc-debut-on-sunday-night-basketball","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/576977\/","title":{"rendered":"Caitlin Clark makes NBC debut on ‘Sunday Night Basketball’"},"content":{"rendered":"

The debut of Sunday Night Basketball also featured the debut of Caitlin Clark as a special contributor for NBC<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Clark joined Maria Taylor, Carmelo Anthony, and Reggie Miller for Basketball Night in America ahead of the Sunday Night Basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re joined by our special correspondent,\u201d Taylor said from the NBA on NBC desk. \u201cWelcome to the team, Caitlin Clark.\u201d<\/p>\n

Caitlin Clark makes her debut as a special contributor for NBC \u26f9\ufe0f\u200d\u2640\ufe0f pic.twitter.com\/b9o497R90q<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 1, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

I\u2019m going to wear stilts next time https:\/\/t.co\/hq0TK2sQO0<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Caitlin Clark (@CaitlinClark22) February 2, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Taylor asked Clark, a WNBA superstar, to describe the atmosphere of Madison Square Garden.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I think as a player, this is kind of when you feel the atmosphere the most, is when you\u2019re out on the court warming up,\u201d Clark said. \u201cThere\u2019s just a different type of buzz. And, obviously, when LeBron (James) comes to town, it\u2019s probably really different. But Knicks fans are crazy, and I love it. I love people that are passionate about basketball. So, it\u2019s pretty incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs there (an NBA) player, or someone you watch even more specifically, because there\u2019s things in his game maybe you would want to add to yours in the league?\u201d Taylor asked Clark.<\/p>\n

Clark explained why Lakers star Luka Don\u010di\u0107 is a player she can \u201clearn from.\u201d<\/p>\n

Caitlin Clark names Luka Don\u010di\u0107 as an NBA player she can \u201clearn from\u201d as she tries to improve her own game. \ud83c\udfc0\ud83c\udf99\ufe0f https:\/\/t.co\/tDuEIjFuFS<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/L73trHngOZ<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 2, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI think Luka,\u201d Clark said. \u201cLuka\u2019s amazing, and he\u2019s incredible. I think the way that he can not only score the ball, but also the way he passes. And I think the thing about him is like, he\u2019s not the fastest, he\u2019s not the most athletic, but he can get his defender to move where he wants him to go, and he takes up that space. And he does a really good job of either keeping the defender behind him or keeping him to the side. So, I think that\u2019s something I can certainly learn from. I always kind of want to run away from the defense, rather than absorbing the contact and taking up the space that they give me. I think obviously he\u2019s pretty incredible; he averages like a 30-point triple-double. He makes it look pretty easy, but I can promise you, it\u2019s not that easy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Clark also addressed the WNBA side of things, with the WNBA and the Players Association scheduled to meet on Monday to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement.<\/p>\n

Caitlin Clark on the WNBA and Players Association negotiating a new CBA: \u201cI think all of women\u2019s sports, I think this is one of the biggest moments we\u2019ve ever had. I feel very confident that we\u2019re going to get something done.\u201d \ud83c\udfc0\ud83c\udf99\ufe0f pic.twitter.com\/VE7EYHTfPl<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 2, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cHonestly, I don\u2019t think this is just a big moment for the WNBA,\u201d Clark explained. \u201cI think all of women\u2019s sports, I think this is one of the biggest moments we\u2019ve ever had. I feel very confident that we\u2019re going to get something done. And that\u2019s because we\u2019re in this moment because of the product we put on the floor, so we need to be able to continue to do that. I know everybody is working really hard. There\u2019s a meeting tomorrow that\u2019s super important. I truly do believe we\u2019re going to get something done here in the next couple of weeks\u2026 There\u2019s a lot of boxes that we still need to check. We\u2019ve added two new teams. There\u2019s going to be more players than ever. And then we have to get into free agency, and then have a normal draft as well. There\u2019s a lot of things left to do, but I really do feel confdient that both sides are going to reach a deal here soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

Clark expanded on the huge growth of the WNBA.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, basically, any arena you go to, it\u2019s sold out,\u201d Clark said. \u201cWe\u2019re adding two teams. We\u2019re up to 14 now, and then hopefully getting to 18 in the next couple of years. Business is booming, and that\u2019s a really good thing. And we just got to keep meeting the moment. The talent is getting better and better. You see it at the college level coming into the professional game too. I feel very fortunate, and hopefully I have a long career ahead of me as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s no surprise that Clark impressed and came across as a natural in her television debut. As she said, hopefully she has a long playing career ahead. But she\u2019d instantly make an excellent full-time analyst if that ever becomes something she\u2019d like to do.<\/p>\n

Clark will make one more appearance for NBC on Basketball Night in America on March 29, when the Thunder host the Knicks in Oklahoma City on Sunday Night Basketball.<\/p>\n

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