There are many things in this world that defy logic and rational thinking.
One is the WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association).
The women's league was formed 20 years ago by the NBA to further the game of basketball.
Despite the women's game becoming more popular in the last several years primarily due to new players such as Caitlin Clark. Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers, the WNBA continue to lose money.
The WNBA lost a reported collective amount of $50 million in 2025 after losing $40 million in 2024.
The arrival of Caitlin Clark in 2024 brought increased attendance and tv viewership but it has not helped the bottom line as players demanded more money under a new collective bargaining agreement.
For example, compare the attendance at Atlanta Dream games when playing the Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark compared to other opponents.
Atlanta averages over 17,000 per game when Caitlin Clark is in town compared to a normal average of just over 4,000 since she joined the league.
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| Source: Google AI |
You can also see the effect that Clark has had in looking at tv viewership.
Caitlin Clark has played in every game on this list of the top WNBA audiences in the last 25 years.
She was also the centerpiece of the NBA draft show in 2024 when she was the first overall selection.
Remove Caitlin Clark from the equation and the WNBA loses fans in the seats and viewers on the screen.
Of course, that equates to less revenues to the NBA and the WNBA owners.
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| Source: https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/07/wnba-viewership-fever-liberty-among-most-watched-since-2000/ |
You also have this.
Every measurable that is important to revenue generation in the WNBA leads back to Caitlin Clark.
Clark's team, the Indiana Fever, generates more social media impressions than every other WNBA team COMBINED.
For years the WNBA asked basketball fans to give the league a chance. Not many paid attention despite many talented players who were on the court.
Caitlin Clark showed up and suddenly a lot of people started paying attention. That is not an opinion. It is in the facts above.
The WNBA ought to be celebrating and sanctifying her presence.
Caitlin Clark is what Tiger Woods did for the PGA Tour and Michael Jordan did for the NBA.
She is the Aesop's goose that lays golden eggs.
In a logical world the WNBA would do everything in their power to promote and protect her.
That is not the world we live in.
Clark seems to be a target in every game she plays.
She is the victim of more flagrant fouls than anyone else in the league.
She is routinely bodied and beaten up and the referees sit on their whistles.
The WNBA seems to go out of its way to argue Clark is not really that good and is not the reason that the popularity of the of their league has grown in the last three years.
Last week Clark had the fourth triple double of her career.
That is the third most in WNBA history and the most by a guard.
Clark is only in her third year in the league.
However, WNBA players recently voted Caitlin Clark as only the 11th best guard in the league.
These are considered the current leaders in the WNBA for the MVP this year.
Caitlin Clark is not mentioned.
None of these women has ever had a triple double.
Clark's 2026 statistics by comparison.
She is averaging more points and more assists per game than Bueckers and Miles who the WNBA players rank higher than Clark.
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| Source: https://www.statmuse.com/wnba/ask/caitlin-clark-2026-stats |
More relevant, Caitlin Clark leads the WNBA in offensive production despite being hurt and missing 3 games compared to most other players.
She's accounted for 40% of her team's scoring this year between her points and assists.
But she is not considered a leading contender for MVP?
Isn't that the definition of the most valuable player?
One of the more impressive stats I have seen regarding Clark is this one.
Average distance on 3 point FG's.
Better than every NBA player's career stat and not another WNBA player on the list.
Yes, the women play with a smaller ball and the same rim size which makes it easier for the ball to go through the hoop.
However, this is still an astounding stat.
Considering all of the above and what she means to the WNBA, how is it that the league and its players seem to be determined to diminish and destroy her? |
| Image created by Grok Imagine |
