I truly hope this is the last time I have to write about the Caitlin Clark saga as to how the WNBA players hate her and try to impose their physical play on her each and every game. I said I hope, but I know it's not going to happen. The real question is, where will this mindset take the league?
"Caitlin Clark is a phenomenon that has changed women's basketball, women's sports and sports, Period", according to USA Today sports columnist Christine Brennan. Brennan hits the issue spot on. No ifs, ands or buts. "But what makes her tick? How did a kid from Iowa become one of the most recognizable athletes in the world? And what does her presence mean for the future of the WNBA and how we talk about it?" Brennan's new book, "On Her Game: Caitlin Clark and the Revolution in Women's Sports", is a classic read. Brennan's words were calculated and gave a truthful look into what's at stake if changes don't take place in the league.
"Reports and social media posts indicate that Brennan has been critical of the WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and the league's handling of Clark, particularly concerning the physical play she has faced. Her criticism mainly focuses on what she perceives as a lack of protection for Clark and a missed opportunity by the league to fully embrace and support its rising star".
For me, the Brennan book further supports my belief that the league should fire Engelbert and completely dismantle and rebuild its officiating crews. The officials are horrendous, and safety has now become an even bigger issue. To think the WNBA has a greater issue in this regard than the NBA is mind boggling.
To see how Ms. Clark is impacting the league, take a gander at this:
"ABC had its most watched WNBA game ever on Sunday when Paige Bueckers and Dallas faced Clark and the Indiana Fever. Indiana won in a blowout, 102-83, in the first pro matchup between the two-star guards. The game averaged 2.1 million viewers". Clark clearly is working her way back from a quad injury but still managed a double-double with 14 points and 13 assists.
Clark is not only the face of the league on the court, but she is also a slam dunk off it. Clark has an innate way of being one and two steps ahead of any competition she faces. She is a marketing guru. Case in point, the upcoming WNBA All-Star game. At the conclusion of the drafting of players by the captains from each team, Clark and Napheesa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx, Clark fired off a jaw-dropper.
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She did what? Traded me? |
"Clark announced on the WNBA Countdown show, she was trading head coach Cheryl Reeve to Collier (who is, of course, her coach in Minnesota) in return for New York Liberty head coach, Sandy Brondello. While Clark didn't go into too much detail as to why she wanted this trade, it obviously makes sense for Collier to have her own head coach. But fans were quick to notice that Reeve was notoriously critical about the amount of attention Clark received compared to the rest of the league heading into the Fever's star rookie season. Not to mention that Reeve was coach of Team USA Olympics squad, from which Clark was infamously snubbed. Reeve asserts having played no role in that decision. Her continued criticism of Clark says otherwise. The look on Reeve's face of Clark's actions definitely will add to their fiery relationship. I'm not sure if it would be wise to take on Clark. Caitlin is truly the much bigger commodity.
When the WNBA season ends and contract talks begin for 2026, it will be interesting to see who carries the biggest stick regarding the league's future. I have a pretty good idea. Hey, and if there is a big blowout, Clark can always go start her own league. I wouldn't put it past her
Enjoy your sports day!!!
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