Caitlin Clark Debuts in NBA: Luxury Analyst on "Sunday Night Basketball"

WNBA star Caitlin Clark dabbles in the NBA world, at least for two nights. The NBC network announced that Clark, a prominent figure for the Indiana Fever with a large fan base, will join the pre-game coverage team for the debut of “Sunday Night Basketball” this weekend, when the Los Angeles Lakers face the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. This will be a two-night stint for Clark, who plans to return to NBC in another pregame role on March 29, when the Knicks visit the Oklahoma City Thunder.

There is no more iconic figure in women’s basketball right now, nor in the sport in general.
Sam Flood, executive producer of NBC Sports

This decision seems logical, as NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation, and Clark announced a marketing relationship with Xfinity in March 2024. Clark already has experience in television, including a cameo on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” in April 2024. NBC describes Clark as a “special contributor” who will join the “Basketball Night in America” studio team, consisting of host Maria Taylor and analysts Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, and Tracy McGrady, all members of the Basketball Hall of Fame, for pre-game commentary.

I’m very excited to be a part of the Basketball Night in America team this season. Carmelo, Vince, and Tracy are legends of the game, and Maria is a true professional. It will be a lot of fun to join them a few times this season.
Caitlin Clark

Clark’s resume is impressive: she is a two-time WNBA All-Star and was selected for the All-WNBA first team in 2024, on her way to winning the Rookie of the Year award after being the league’s No. 1 draft pick that season. At Iowa, Clark became the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division I history with 3,951 points and was a two-time AP Player of the Year, as well as the AP female athlete of the year in 2024. Flood is convinced that Clark can perform this new role.

She’s had cameras pointed at her for years, and she’s certainly always put on a show with a basketball in her hand. And after a game ends, it’s always a great interview. She’s always very thoughtful in everything she says. And to have the ability to do that on this platform, with this team, is going to be a lot of fun to listen to. That’s the beauty of who she is.
Sam Flood, executive producer at NBC Sports

Clark has dabbled in sports broadcasting before, and once went viral for trying to do some live commentary while watching the Philadelphia Phillies, unaware that her Fever teammate, Lexie Hull, was secretly recording her. The Phillies gave Clark very positive reviews and even invited her to try it out for real. And now, NBC is giving her that opportunity too.

It will be in a basketball pavilion, as it always is, and in his comfort zone, which is on the court talking about the sport he loves and in which he shines. So, what better place for his debut than at Madison Square Garden with this great team of talent around him? We trust that he will thrive, because a basketball court is his second home.
Sam Flood, executive producer of NBC Sports

Clark missed 13 games due to an injury last season with the Fever, who reached the WNBA semifinals and fell to the eventual champions, the Las Vegas Aces. She returned to the court in December, participating in a camp with the U.S. women’s national basketball team. It’s still unclear when she will play a real game again: the WNBA and its players are still in a labor dispute that could threaten the 2026 season. Clark has made her opinions clear, saying last month that these conversations are “the most important moment” for the WNBA and that “there has to be compromise on both sides” to reach a suitable agreement. It is unknown if he will address labor issues on Sunday. But Flood revealed a detail about what might happen during Clark’s debut appearance.