Weekend Update: Caitlin Clark on the WNBA Draft - SNL

Saturday Night Live

13 Apr 202404:33

Summary

TLDRThe University of Iowa's basketball star, Caitlin Clark, is in the spotlight as her jersey retirement is announced and her future in the WNBA is anticipated. A humorous exchange with Michael Che highlights the importance of women's sports and the progress made by trailblazing athletes like Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie, Dawn Staley, and Maya Moore. The conversation also touches on the impact of AI in sports reporting and the community's support for women's basketball, as seen in the record-breaking viewership for the Iowa vs UConn game.

Takeaways

🏀 The University of Iowa is retiring basketball star Caitlin Clark's jersey and replacing it with an apron, marking a significant honor for the athlete.
🥳 Caitlin Clark is anticipated to be the number one pick in the upcoming WNBA draft, highlighting her exceptional talent and potential impact on the professional league.
🎤 Caitlin Clark engages in a light-hearted exchange with Michael Che, addressing the importance of respecting and promoting women's sports.
📺 Sports bars known as 'The Empty Ones' are pledging to broadcast only women's basketball games during March Madness, demonstrating increased support for women's sports.
🤖 A new report reveals that articles on the Sports Illustrated website, supposedly generated by AI, have been making significant errors, including the fictional creation of the WNBA.
📈 Iowa's Final Four game against UConn is reported to be the most watched women's college basketball game ever, with 14.2 million viewers.
😄 Michael Che attempts to redeem himself by sharing jokes written about women's sports, aiming to be more inclusive and humorous in a positive way.
🏆 Caitlin Clark expresses gratitude to the great players of the WNBA, such as Sherilyn Fowlkes, Lisa Leslie, Dawn Staley, and Maya Moore, for their pioneering contributions to the sport.
🎁 Caitlin Clark brings a signed apron as a souvenir for Michael Che, turning the initial joke into a memorable and positive moment.
🌟 Caitlin Clark acknowledges the big first step she's taking into the WNBA and the ongoing progress for women's basketball, appreciating the foundation laid by previous players.

Q & A

Which university announced the retirement of Caitlin Clark's jersey?
-The University of Iowa announced that basketball star Caitlin Clark will have her jersey retired.
What is happening to Caitlin Clark's jersey after retirement?
-Caitlin Clark's jersey is being replaced with an apron after its retirement.
When is the WNBA draft taking place?
-The WNBA draft is taking place on Monday.
Which pick is Caitlin Clark expected to be in the WNBA draft?
-Caitlin Clark is expected to be the number one pick in the WNBA draft.
What is the main criticism Caitlin Clark has for Michael Che regarding his jokes?
-Caitlin Clark criticizes Michael Che for making a lot of jokes about women's sports.
What is the humorous mistake the AI on the Sports Illustrated website made?
-The AI on the Sports Illustrated website mistakenly made up something called the WNBA.
Which game was claimed to be the most watched women's college basketball game with 14.2 million viewers?
-Iowa's Final Four game against UConn was claimed to be the most watched women's college basketball game with 14.2 million viewers.
What is the significance of the 'Empty Ones' in relation to women's basketball?
-The 'Empty Ones' is a collective name for a number of sports bars around the country that are promising to only show women's basketball games during March Madness.
Who are Caitlin Clark's basketball heroes and what did she say about them?
-Caitlin Clark's basketball heroes include Sherly Swoops, Lisa Leslie, Dawn Stanley, and Maya Moore. She thanked them for laying down the foundation and allowing her to walk inside.
What souvenir did Caitlin Clark bring for Michael Che?
-Caitlin Clark brought an apron signed by her for Michael Che as a souvenir.
What is the advice Caitlin Clark gave to Michael Che in the form of three pointers?
-Caitlin Clark's advice to Michael Che in the form of three pointers was to be funnier, more aware, and to not be a dumb ass.

Outlines

00:00

🏀 Caitlin Clark's Jersey Retirement and WNBA Draft

The University of Iowa announced the retirement of basketball star Caitlin Clark's jersey, with plans to replace it with an apron. This comes as Caitlin Clark is anticipated to be the number one pick in the upcoming WNBA draft on Monday. Caitlin Clark joins the conversation, expressing her gratitude for the support and discussing her preparation for the draft. The discussion also touches on the importance of women's sports and the impact of humor and media coverage on the perception of female athletes. A highlight of the segment is Caitlin Clark's response to jokes made at the expense of women's sports, as she reads out a series of humorous remarks written by the show's host. The segment concludes with Caitlin Clark expressing her admiration for the trailblazing women of the WNBA and sharing a gift for the host, an apron signed by her, in a light-hearted gesture.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Caitlin Clark

Caitlin Clark is a prominent basketball player at the University of Iowa, who is expected to be the number one pick in the WNBA draft. She is a central figure in the video, symbolizing the success and recognition of women in sports. Her jersey retirement and the subsequent replacement with an apron is a humorous jab at the host's joke, highlighting the video's theme of addressing gender stereotypes and promoting women's sports.

💡WNBA

The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) is a professional basketball league in the United States, featuring women's basketball teams. In the video, the WNBA is a key concept as it represents the professional stage where Caitlin Clark aspires to compete. The mention of the WNBA draft and Caitlin Clark's potential selection as the first pick underscores the theme of women's empowerment and recognition in sports.

💡Jersey Retirement

Jersey retirement is a sports tradition where a team retires a player's jersey number as a way to honor their achievements and contributions to the team. In the video, Caitlin Clark's jersey retirement is mentioned, but with a twist of humor as it is replaced with an apron, which is a playful jab at the host's joke. This concept ties into the video's theme of celebrating women's sports while also addressing the need for more respect and seriousness towards women's achievements in sports.

💡Gender Stereotypes

Gender stereotypes are generalized and often oversimplified ideas about the roles, characteristics, and behaviors associated with males and females. The video addresses gender stereotypes through humor and dialogue, challenging the host's jokes about women's sports and highlighting the accomplishments of female athletes. By doing so, it aims to break down these stereotypes and promote a more inclusive and respectful view of women in sports.

💡March Madness

March Madness is an annual college basketball tournament in the United States, involving both men's and women's teams. The term is synonymous with the excitement and competition surrounding the event. In the video, the mention of sports bars showing only women's basketball games during March Madness serves as a satirical comment on the typically lower viewership and attention given to women's sports, emphasizing the need for greater support and recognition.

💡AI-generated Content

AI-generated content refers to material, such as articles or reports, that are created by artificial intelligence rather than human authors. In the context of the video, the mention of AI-generated stories on the Sports Illustrated website that made mistakes, including inventing the WNBA, serves as a satirical commentary on the potential pitfalls of relying too heavily on technology. It also underscores the importance of human oversight and expertise in reporting on sports and other fields.

💡Indiana Fever

The Indiana Fever is a professional women's basketball team in the WNBA, based in Indianapolis, Indiana. In the video, the team is mentioned in the context of having the first pick in the draft, which is a significant event for any sports team. The mention of the Indiana Fever ties into the video's theme of promoting women's sports and highlighting the professional opportunities available to female athletes.

💡Three-Pointers

A three-pointer in basketball is a shot taken from beyond the three-point line, with successful shots earning the team three points. In the video, Caitlin Clark is noted for breaking the record for three-pointers in a single season, which is a testament to her skill and ability as a player. This achievement is used to emphasize the video's message of celebrating and recognizing the accomplishments of female athletes.

💡Women's Sports

Women's sports refer to sports played by female athletes, either in professional leagues like the WNBA or at the collegiate level. The video's main theme revolves around the recognition and support of women's sports, challenging stereotypes and biases, and celebrating the achievements of female athletes. By featuring Caitlin Clark and discussing the WNBA draft, the video promotes the importance of women's sports and the need for greater visibility and appreciation.

💡Sports Illustrated

Sports Illustrated is an American sports media franchise that includes a website and a now-defunct magazine known for its in-depth sports coverage, analysis, and commentary. In the video, a report from the Sports Illustrated website is mentioned, which claims that AI-generated stories have been making errors, such as inventing the WNBA. This serves as a critique of the reliance on AI in sports journalism and underscores the importance of accurate and knowledgeable reporting on sports events and leagues.

💡Women Empowerment

Women empowerment refers to the act of promoting and supporting women's rights, abilities, and achievements, particularly in areas where they have been historically underrepresented or marginalized. In the video, Caitlin Clark's accomplishments and the discussion around the WNBA draft represent themes of women empowerment, as they showcase the success of female athletes and challenge societal norms that often undervalue women's sports. The video uses humor and dialogue to address these issues and advocate for greater recognition and support for women in sports.

Highlights

The University of Iowa announces the retirement of basketball star Caitlin Clark's jersey, to be replaced with an apron.

Caitlin Clark is expected to be the number one pick in the upcoming WNBA draft.

Caitlin Clark joins the conversation to comment on the draft and the apron joke.

The host, Michael, is called out for making frequent jokes about women's sports.

A super cut of Michael making jokes about women's sports is played.

Sports bars known as 'The Empty Ones' promise to only show women's basketball games during March Madness.

A report claims that recent stories on the Sports Illustrated website were generated by AI, which made glaring mistakes, including making up the WNBA.

Iowa's Final Four game against UConn was the most watched women's college basketball game ever with 14.2 million viewers.

Colin brings up the record-breaking viewership as a rebuttal to Michael's jokes.

Caitlin Clark is acknowledged as a great basketball player, and the conversation shifts to supporting women in sports.

Caitlin Clark shares her appreciation for the great players who laid the foundation for the WNBA, including Sherly Swoops, Lisa Leslie, Dawn Stanley, and Maya Moore.

Caitlin Clark brings a signed apron as a souvenir for Michael, turning his joke into a positive moment.

Michael Che's special 'Shame the Devil' is mentioned as one of the hardest things to watch on Netflix.

Caitlin Clark's record for three-pointers in a single season is mentioned.

Caitlin Clark gives three pointers to Michael Che: be funnier, be dumber, and be an ass.

Caitlin Clark expresses her excitement for the upcoming WNBA season and the significance of being a part of it.

The conversation ends with a positive note, wishing Caitlin Clark good luck in the WNBA.