Caitlin Clark, the WNBA’s rising star, has brought unprecedented attention to women’s basketball, sparking both admiration and controversy in the sports community. Her impact on the league is evident through surging jersey sales, ticket sales, and TV ratings. However, her presence has also stirred discussions on deeper issues within the sport, including race and sexuality.
Fox News contributor Guy Benson praised Clark’s influence, highlighting her significant contribution to the league’s popularity. “The WNBA has been a failure forever, it just has been,” Benson stated bluntly. “They don’t make money. They have not turned a profit ever.” He further emphasized, “And you look at the interest at the college level now, at the WNBA level in Caitlin Clark, the jersey sales, the ticket sales, the TV ratings. This league would be suicidal to not protect its most valuable asset in the history of the league.”
However, former ESPN host Jemele Hill provided a critical perspective on the attention Clark has garnered. Hill suggested that Clark’s race and sexuality played roles in her popularity, which might overshadow other players. “We would all be very naive if we didn’t say race and her sexuality played a role in her popularity. While so many people are happy for Caitlin’s success — including the players; this has had such an enormous impact on the game — there is a part of it that is a little problematic because of what it says about the worth and the marketability of the players who are already there,” Hill explained to ‘The LA Times.’
On the court, the tension surrounding Clark’s stardom was evident during a game against the Chicago Sky, where guard Chennedy Carter delivered a controversial hip-check to Clark. Initially called a common foul, the league later upgraded it to a flagrant-1 violation after reviewing the incident. Carter’s response to media inquiries was terse, as she chose instead to express her thoughts on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “hoop or shut up.”
Fox News contributor Joe Concha suggested that the WNBA should consider increasing fines to prevent such incidents, highlighting the need for the league to safeguard its new star. Meanwhile, Fox News’ Anita Vogel criticized the focus on factors other than Clark’s skill. “They forgot to mention her talent. I mean, she’s there because of her athletic ability,” Vogel pointed out, underscoring Clark’s prowess as a player.
Vogel also reflected on the broader implications of Clark’s success: “I think it’s wonderful that women, young women who like to play basketball, now have her to look up to. And maybe they aspire to the NBA, WNBA, maybe that is going to, you know, have more success in the future because of her.”
Clark’s emergence as a beacon in the WNBA not only showcases her exceptional talent but also highlights the complex dynamics of popularity and representation in sports.