Caitlin Clark's WNBA Haters Will Stunt the Legues Growth

During the NCAA women's basketball season, a player named Caitlin Clark from Iowa University emerged as a sensational talent, capturing widespread attention. Clark, who had been a strong performer for some time, truly came into the spotlight toward the season's end, becoming a phenomenon unprecedented in women’s sports.

Her dynamic playmaking, sharpshooting, and keen court intelligence propelled her into a rarefied status, previously occupied by few female athletes in America. She set new benchmarks both on the court and in attendance, drawing large crowds eager to witness her generational talent. The television ratings were record breaking as well, garnering viewership in the millions, and this went on for several of her games all the way up to her championship loss against South Carolina. It was amazing to many that her bid for a championship received a higher rating then the men's national championship game. This had never been done before.

However, just as Caitlin Clark seems poised to elevate the WNBA's profile upon her anticipated entry, a wave of backlash from within the pro league itself has begun to surface. Prominent WNBA players, many of whom are Black and identify as LGBTQ+, openly criticized the young Iowa standout. Their critiques provided a stark reminder of the challenges that lie in promoting unity and sportsmanship within the league, especially with someone who is white and doesn't identify as gay is garnering so much attention.

This backlash underscores a larger issue in the WNBA: jealousy of anyone who can elevate the sport that is not a part of the gay fraternity and is white to boot. Bottom line, the WNBA has a bully problem, and for that reason, straight men and women, who may have come around to watching the professional league and boosting revenue which in turn would give bigger paydays to the players who've desperately wanted that for a long time, may just keep repeating their behavior of not watching because of the ugliness that is the WNBA.

The spectacle of Caitlin Clark confronting this adversity could initially attract viewers that are intrigued by the drama. However, it won't last. Instead of leveraging Clark’s rising star to draw in new fans and foster a broader appreciation for women’s basketball, there seems to be a missed opportunity as some league stars have set the tone to who they are and who runs the league. And if you don't bow down to the gatekeepers, you cannot succeed.

How unfortunate. This moment could have been a turning point to enhance the league's appeal and solidify its growth, but instead, it risks reverting to previous struggles with viewership and public perception.

The WNBA's front office stands at a crossroads, it could back the fraternity of bullied-up gay players or shut them up and harness the energy and popularity of Caitlin Clark to champion a new era of inclusivity and excitement in women’s sports and finally make some revenue for a change rather than living off the milk of the NBA's nipple.