Hey, it's NPR's book of the day. I'm Andrew Limbong. There's a lesson about being a big fish

in a small pond in today's interview. It's with sports writer Christine, it's with sports writer

Christine Brennan about her new book on her game, which is a look at Caitlin Clark's rise to

stardom. I almost just said sports stardom there, but it's clear that she's broken out

beyond sports, that she's a known figure even among non-sports fans. But there's a moment in her

career that could have changed that trajectory. Brennan talks to Empire Scott Simon about Clark

almost going to Notre Dame for college instead of Iowa, and how that choice set her up for startup.

That's coming up.

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Few names are bigger in sports today than Caitlin Clark.

She played the 2024 NCAA Women's Final for her college team, the Iowa Hawkeyes.

The ratings top the men's final by 4 million viewers.

Her regular season games with her pro team, the Indiana fever average more than a million viewers.

Even fans who root for other teams thrilled to see Caitlin Clark's

long, lofty three-point shots. Christine Brennan, the famed sports columnist for USA Today,

and a frequent commentator, has written a book that looks at the role Caitlin Clark now occupies

in U.S. sports and culture on her game. Caitlin Clark and the Revolution in Women's Sports. Christine Brennan joins us. Now, Christine, thanks so much for being with us. Oh, my pleasure, Scott. Thanks for having me. So Caitlin Clark had to join a boys team at first to play basketball? Exactly. And, of course, that tells you that where we are now with women's sports,

...