The WNBA’s Disastrous Handling of Caitlyn Clark’s Stardom Exposed: A Deep Dive into Incompetence and Jealousy

Christine Brennan, a legendary sports journalist, has just dropped a bombshell on the WNBA, exposing how the league missed a massive opportunity with Caitlyn Clark. This shocking revelation uncovers the league’s failure to handle Clark’s rise, and how jealousy, pettiness, and incompetence within the WNBA have undermined the superstar’s impact. Will this mark a turning point for the league or is it too late?

In an explosive new book, USA Today’s Christine Brennan lays bare one of the biggest missed opportunities in sports history: the WNBA’s complete failure to capitalize on Caitlyn Clark’s rise to superstardom. If you thought the league was ready for someone like her, think again. Brennan’s detailed investigation reveals a shockingly poor response from the WNBA leadership—filled with jealousy, ignorance, and missed chances for what could have been a game-changing moment for women’s sports.

For those who aren’t in the know, Caitlyn Clark isn’t just any basketball player—she’s the biggest thing to hit the WNBA since its inception. Drawing crowds and attention from across the globe, Clark has single-handedly put women’s basketball in the spotlight like never before. In fact, her influence might even rival that of Tiger Woods in men’s golf. Yet, despite her massive potential to push the WNBA into the mainstream, the league was caught off-guard and utterly unprepared.

The Start of the Story: WNBA’s Blind Spot

Brennan, one of the most respected sports writers in the country, reveals how WNBA executives didn’t just miss the boat on Clark—they were actively clueless about what was happening right in front of them. According to Brennan, when Clark officially declared for the 2024 draft, a senior league official’s response was shockingly underwhelming. Instead of celebrating the moment, the official described Clark’s entry as merely the biggest thing since Maya Moore. With all due respect to Moore’s legendary career, this statement is downright embarrassing—outside of hardcore basketball fans, Moore never reached mainstream stardom like Clark.

The problem, Brennan suggests, was not only about misjudging Clark’s potential; it was a deep-rooted issue within the league’s culture. For decades, the WNBA had been a niche sport, largely ignored by mainstream media and underfunded by corporate sponsors. Clark represented a chance to finally break out of that rut, but the league’s leadership was so entrenched in their old ways that they couldn’t even imagine the possibility of mass-market success. As Brennan points out, it’s like running a bakery and being shocked when people actually show up to buy bread.

The Missed Opportunity: A Star’s Potential Unleashed

As Brennan digs deeper into her investigation, she highlights how the WNBA didn’t just fumble their chance with Clark—they actively ignored it. The league’s response to her meteoric rise was not one of excitement or planning, but of confusion and passive resistance. Unlike other major leagues, where rising stars are treated like golden geese, Clark’s sudden fame was met with resistance, cold shoulders, and even envy.

In her book, Brennan reveals shocking instances where Clark’s popularity was seen as a threat rather than an asset. Coaches, players, and even some legacy media figures seemed annoyed by the attention she was receiving. While other sports have embraced their rising stars, the WNBA appeared to view Clark’s newfound fame as a problem to manage, not a golden ticket to success.

What should have been an easy win for the league turned into a disaster. Rather than promoting Clark’s greatness, the WNBA sat idly by while her star power skyrocketed. Brennan paints a picture of a league that had no plan, no strategy, and no idea how to handle the wave of interest Clark was bringing. This, despite the fact that Clark was drawing massive crowds and setting TV ratings records.

The Culture of Jealousy: WNBA Players Turn Against Their Own

But perhaps the most damning part of Brennan’s expose is the jealousy that Clark faced from within the league. Instead of supporting Clark as the rising star she was, some players saw her success as a threat to their own legacies. This internal bitterness is a major part of what’s been going wrong within the WNBA. Instead of uniting behind their biggest asset, players and coaches took cheap shots at Clark both on and off the court.

From flagrant fouls to media criticisms, the league allowed Clark to become the target of personal animus. Legendary figures like Diana Taurasi and Brianna Stewart criticized Clark’s rise instead of embracing the momentum she was creating for the entire league. The WNBA, in its misguided attempts to maintain an outdated sense of “purity,” allowed the very players they should have protected to become the victims of this toxic environment.

The Path Not Taken: How Clark Could Have Saved the WNBA

Brennan’s investigation reveals that the WNBA had every tool at its disposal to promote Clark—and by extension, the league—into the mainstream. She could have been the face of the league, marketed in ways that attracted millions of fans, new sponsors, and increased ratings. The timing was perfect. Caitlyn Clark wasn’t just a basketball player; she was a cultural phenomenon. She brought a new audience to the sport—one that was excited, engaged, and ready to support her journey. Yet, despite all these advantages, the WNBA failed to act.

Brennan doesn’t hold back in showing just how badly the WNBA botched this golden opportunity. From poor marketing decisions to failed promotional campaigns, the league squandered the chance to ride the wave of Clark’s popularity. This wasn’t just a mistake; it was a series of monumental failures that exposed the league’s incompetence.

The Legacy: What’s Next for Caitlyn Clark and the WNBA?

As we look at the current state of the WNBA, one thing is clear: Caitlyn Clark has become the biggest star in women’s basketball, and her influence will only grow. But the question remains—will the WNBA learn from their mistakes? Will they finally recognize Clark’s value and embrace the mainstream attention she brings? Or will the league continue to struggle with its outdated mindset and internal struggles?

Brennan’s book serves as a wake-up call, not just for the WNBA, but for the entire sports world. It’s a case study in how not to treat your star player, and how a league’s internal culture can sabotage the very growth it so desperately needs. As for Clark, her future is brighter than ever, but whether the WNBA can keep up with her remains to be seen.

What’s clear is that Caitlyn Clark isn’t just changing the game—she’s changing the conversation around women’s sports. Whether or not the WNBA embraces this moment is up to them, but it’s a moment they’ll be lucky to have, if they don’t mess it up again.