As the conversation continues surrounding the WNBA's treatment of Caitlin Clark, an important question is being asked: Is she truly the "face" of the league?
Clark, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, is probably the league's most popular player. She's certainly the player that drives the most TV ratings and ticket sales, anyway.
But The Athletic is stating that the Caitlin Clark experience is no longer "fun."
"This isn’t fun. The Caitlin Clark experience. It was supposed to be a whole bunch of logo 3s and a staggering amount of no-look passes. Instead, it’s become a sizzle reel of flagrant fouls, interrupted only by troubling injuries and league-wide PR nightmares," The Athletic wrote.
"It was supposed to feel like a party in the Heartland that lasts through the summer months, and a revolution for girls everywhere that’ll echo throughout generations. This was supposed to keep us — all of us — watching, celebrating and obsessing over women’s sports. This was supposed to be magic, swished in from waaaaay downtown."
© Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images.
As the conversation continues, many are suggesting that there's too much headache surrounding Clark right now.
"However for the rest of us, who just came for the pure love of basketball but instead got ref riffraff and culture wars, we just want a little fun," Candace Buckner added.
"But frustration, not fun, has defined Clark’s third season. This current physical limitation comes on the heels of her injury-depleted second season, when she missed 31 games. She still hasn’t mentally recovered from what that time away stole from her body, and stripped from her spitfire armor. Though Clark can chirp, F-bomb and howl with the best of ’em — she’s as passionate, and petulant, as any empowered basketball superstar — she recently showed a different side, her vulnerability."
Lisa Leslie says Clark is not 'face' of the league
The legendary WNBA star believes that A'ja Wilson, not Caitlin Clark, is undoubtedly the face of the league.
"This is the face of the WNBA."
Wilson is surely the league's best player.
But is she the face of the league over Clark?
The debate will continue.
