Caitlin Clark is undeniably the most popular player in the WNBA today. Indiana Fever games are often sold out because of her, and the fact that she has overtaken LeBron James in jersey sales further highlights how massive her following is.
The Fever All-Star has also proven that she has the talent to back up her popularity. Across 70 games played over three WNBA seasons, she has averaged 19.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 8.4 assists and 1.2 steals.
Considering her elite play and huge fan base, one would expect the WNBA to keep promoting her to further push the league forward. That's why many were surprised when the WNBA didn't include Clark in its 30th anniversary poster.
Making it even more interesting, the WNBA picked Cunningham for the poster even though the Fever have three superstars in Clark, Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston.
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Even Cunningham couldn't believe it herself. She emphasized on her podcast that the WNBA made a mistake by not promoting Clark or her other star teammates.
"It is a joke, and this is why Cathy and the WNBA [are] getting lit up on social media because you're leaving out a generational, the best player to ever go through the WNBA, on this poster," Cunningham said on the "Show Me Something" podcast.
"Like, honestly, if they were smart, they would market the [expletive] out of some of us. They don't."
For what it's worth, Clark's exclusion from the poster has been linked to licensing rights, as Darren Rovell of CLLCT reported.
"The reason why Caitlin is not on this poster is…. you ready? …. Caitlin Clark herself," Rovell claimed. "Other than Nike, Clark allows licensees like Wincraft, who makes this to only use her name and number. Not her likeness."
Still, that doesn't explain why the WNBA opted to go with Cunningham instead of Mitchell or Boston. The league has yet to address the decision as well.
