Caleb Williams Breaks Caitlin Clark's Record ... Most Draft Night Merch Sold Across Sports

Caitlin Clark is known to break records, but Caleb Williams is showing her what it's like to be on the other side of history ... with the Chicago Bears quarterback becoming the top-selling draft pick across sports -- just one week after the Indiana Fever superstar earned the title herself.

The former USC Trojans signal-caller was the first prospect to have his name called at Thursday night's draft in Detroit ... and shortly after the selection was made official, Bears fans rushed to cop merch in support of their new face of the franchise.

Fanatics -- the official online retailer for the NFL -- confirmed to TMZ Sports there were an insane amount of orders for Williams apparel ... more than any rookie on draft night across any professional sport.

WNBA Legend Sue Bird I'm Back!!! ... New Owner Of Storm

Sue Bird is back in the WNBA ... not as a player, but instead as owner of her former team, the Seattle Storm!

The organization broke the news, releasing a statement announcing Bird, 43, would be joining the Storm's ownership group.

"We are thrilled to welcome Sue into the ownership group after a storied career on the court," Storm co-owner Lisa Brummel said.

Caitlin Clark Se derrite por su novio en su primer aniversario ... "Te amo"

El básquetbol no es el único amor en la vida de Caitlin Clark. La nueva estrella de la WNBA reveló el miércoles que también está muy enamorada de su novio, dejando caer las preciadas palabras sobre él en un tierno post en redes sociales.

Clark publicó el mensaje en su cuenta de Instagram para conmemorar su primer aniversario con Connor McCaffery y escribió: "Haces que cada día sea mejor".

"Y no puedo esperar por muchas más aventuras juntos ...", agregó. "Te amo".

Caitlin Clark Swoons Over BF On 1-Year Anniversary ... 'Love You'

Basketball ain't the only love in Caitlin Clark's life ... the new WNBA star revealed Wednesday she's smitten with her boyfriend too -- droppin' an L-bomb on him in a sappy social media post.

Clark delivered the mushy message on her Instagram page to commemorate her and Connor McCaffery's 1-year anniversary ... writing, "you make everyday better."

"And I can’t wait for many more adventures together…," she added. "love you."

Caitlin Clark Big3 Offer Was Worth $15 Million ... League Co-Founder Says

Caitlin Clark was slated to make AT LEAST $15 million if she had agreed to suit up for Ice Cube's Big3 ... so says league co-founder Jeff Kwatinetz, who's revealing more eye-popping details on the lucrative offer.

TMZ Sports broke the story ... the former Iowa basketball superstar was presented a historic $5 million deal to play just 10 games for the 3-on-3 organization last month -- while still being able to pursue a WNBA career.

Kwatinetz revealed in an article for OutKick he believes the "male agents and executives controlling the sport" never actually told Clark about the contract ... which is a big loss for her bank account.

Dave Portnoy Nike Screwed Caitlin Clark ... She's Worth More Than $28 Mil!

Caitlin Clark's Nike deal is being celebrated as historic by many fans, but the contract should've been worth so much more, according to Dave Portnoy ... who says the Swoosh is committing armed robbery!

"If people want to complain about Caitlin Clark getting screwed complain about this. 8 year 28 million deal is STEALING," the Barstool founder wrote on X.

The deal, which comes along with a signature Clark shoe, has an annual average value of $3.5 million.

Kelsey Plum, Darren Waller It's Over!!! ... Divorcing After 1 Year

WNBA star Kelsey Plum and NFL tight end Darren Waller are taking a trip to Splitsville -- the two pro athletes just filed a joint petition for divorce, TMZ Sports has confirmed.

Plum and Waller got married after a year of dating in March 2023  ... and they were quite the sports power couple -- Kelsey is a two-time champion and former No. 1 overall pick, and Darren was a Pro Bowler in 2020.

It'll be a pretty clean breakup ... as a joint petition means they have already agreed on distribution of assets and debts, as well as alimony.

Joy Taylor, MJ Acosta-Ruiz Hosting New Series On Female Athletes ... 'Like A Girl'

GIVING THEM A VOICE
TMZSports.com

Women's sports are surging -- Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and others have become superstars -- and now Joy Taylor and MJ Acosta-Ruiz are set to bring even more attention to some of the best female athletes in the world ... thanks to their new TV show!

Taylor and Acosta-Ruiz, top TV hosts and media personalities for FS1 and NFL Network, respectively, are not only set to host, but also executive produce season 2 of the Fuse Media show, "Like A Girl" ... which gives an inside look at the major successes, as well as the plights, of top female athletes, on and off the field/court/pitch.

TMZ Sports had a conversation with both women ... who broke the news about the upcoming project -- set to air this summer.

Caitlin Clark Blocks Antonio Brown On X ... After Inappropriate Posts

Caitlin Clark has clearly had enough of Antonio Brown's social media antics ... she just blocked the ex-NFL player after he posted inappropriate things about her on his X page.

AB took to the app not once but thrice on Wednesday to say crass things about the WNBA's newest star following her Indiana Fever introductory press conference ... in an apparent attempt to be funny.

But, most rolled their eyes at the posts -- including Clark ... who straight up blocked the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers wideout for the behavior.

Angel Reese New Nickname After Draft ... 'The Chi Barbie!!!'

Chi Barbie incoming !!!

Angel Reese is no longer the "Bayou Barbie!"

Nope ... the new WNBA rookie says she wants to be called the "Chi Barbie" now instead.

The former LSU hoops star made the announcement Thursday ... just a couple days after the Chicago Sky selected her with the 7th overall pick in the draft.

Caitlin Clark Bloquea a Antonio Brown de X ... Después de unos post inapropiados

Caitlin Clark ya ha tenido suficiente de las payasadas de Antonio Brown en redes sociales, pues acaba de bloquear al ex jugador de la NFL después de que publicara cosas inapropiadas sobre ella en su cuenta de X.

Antonio Brown usó la plataforma no una, sino tres veces el miércoles para decir cosas groseras sobre la nueva estrella de la WNBA después de su conferencia de prensa de presentación en Indiana Fever, en un aparente intento por ser gracioso.

Pero la mayoría de las personas puso sus ojos en blanco, incluyendo Clark, quien directamente bloqueó al ex jugador del Tampa Bay Buccaneers por su comportamiento.

Caitlin Clark Reporter Sorry For Awkward Comments ... 'I Crossed' The Line

The Indiana Fever reporter who was dragged for a bizarre conversation with Caitlin Clark on Wednesday is now apologizing for his actions ... admitting he crossed a line with his behavior.

Gregg Doyel, a journalist for the Indianapolis Star, issued the mea culpa just a few hours after he went viral for shooting a heart-hand gesture at Clark and following it up with some cringeworthy commentary during her introductory press conference.

Doyel first said in a post on his X page he was "sincerely" sorry for the "oafish" encounter. He then posted a column on the Star's website where he tried to explain his conduct.

Caitlin Clark Reporter Dragged For Interaction With Fever Star ... Cringeworthy Comment

04/17/24
AWKWARD EXCHANGE
Indiana Fever

An Indiana Fever reporter is being dragged for how he interacted with Caitlin Clark on Wednesday ... with many fans blasting the journalist for the way he shot a cringeworthy comment at the WNBA's newest star.

The encounter happened just minutes after Clark was introduced to Indiana media members for the first time since she was drafted by the Fever ... when Indianapolis Star columnist Gregg Doyel stepped up to the microphone to ask her a question about her new hometown.

At first, things seemed innocuous -- he politely introduced himself -- but then he paused, and sent a heart-hand gesture to the 22-year-old.

Caitlin Clark 'Terrified' For 'SNL' Appearance ... 'I Was So Nervous!!!'

COMING TO YOU LIVE !!!

Caitlin Clark doesn't mind packed arenas, zone defenses or contested shots ... but she admitted Wednesday there is one thing that terrifies her -- "Saturday Night Live" cameras!!

The 22-year-old met with reporters in Indiana for the first time since the Fever picked her in Monday night's WNBA Draft ... and amid questions about her game and her future, someone just had to ask about her hilarious appearance on 'SNL' over the weekend.

Clark revealed that while she looked calm and cool on the outside -- she was anything but that on the inside ... saying, "I was terrified."

"I was so nervous," she said. "My heart was about to explode out of my chest."

Of course, Clark -- as she does so often on the hardwood -- came through in the clutch despite the nerves ... and delivered funny line after funny line in her four-minute cameo with Michael Che and Colin Jost on Weekend Update.

She roasted Che for making fun of women's sports ... and then made him read some jokes about himself that she said on the show that she "wrote."

Clark revealed Wednesday she didn't actually pen them herself -- "I'm not that funny," she quipped  -- but she was pleased nonetheless with how it all turned out.

"It was good," she said. "It was a good platform for women's sports. Everybody loved it."

As for if we'll see her on the show again -- she said she'd love to make another appearance -- although don't count on her hosting anytime soon, 'cause she made it clear that'd just be too nerve-racking for her right now!

Angel Reese Wearing Jersey No. 5 W/ Chicago Sky ... Cardoso Keeps #10!

The winner of the Number 10 Chicago Sky jersey sweepstakes has been confirmed ... Kamilla Cardoso will keep the number she wore in South Carolina while Angel Reese will switch to 5, calling it "new beginnings."

Remember, former Gamecocks center Cardoso and Reese -- who played forward at LSU -- both wore number 10 during their standout college basketball careers.

In fact, Reese even wore the number before stepping foot in Louisiana... rocking 5 at the Univ. of Maryland (2020-2022) and Saint Frances Academy in Baltimore. Cardoso, on the other hand, has worn different jersey numbers since high school.

So, when the Chicago Sky selected Cardoso and Reese at the WNBA Draft Monday night, we questioned who'd get 10.

The Chicago Sky posted the new rookie jerseys on their site on Tuesday ... and you can obviously see Cardoso's black and blue number 10 jersey.

Reese addressed the change to 5 ... and the 7th overall pick claims she's fine with the new number.

"New era, new beginnings," the 21-year-old said. "Go cop now!"

Despite the change, you can expect Reese's gear to sell like crazy. Remember, Fanatics told us Caitlin Clark's rookie jersey was the hottest seller for a rookie athlete ever, with a record number of fans copping Caitlin's merch.

Reese is also incredibly popular ... and her jersey is sure to be one of the most rocked in the country.

Speaking of the two superstar hoopers ... their teams, the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever, will match up in a highly anticipated game on June 1.

Safe to say there will be a lot of Reese AND Clark jerseys in the building that day!

Caitlin Clark WNBA Draft Breaks Records ... Most-Viewed Ever!!!

Eyeballs all across the nation continue to flock toward Caitlin Clark ... Monday night's WNBA Draft -- which the former Iowa superstar headlined -- was just revealed to be the most-viewed in the history of the event!

ESPN announced Tuesday that 2.45 million people tuned in to watch the Indiana Fever take Clark with the No. 1 overall pick ... smashing the previous high of 601,000 watchers in 2004. The outlet added that at its peak, the draft's broadcast drew in a total of 3.09 million people.

According to the network, the selection ceremony -- which also featured stars like Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso -- was the most popular program on Monday night amongst people under the age of 35 years old.

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