In the world of professional sports, star power is the ultimate currency. It sells tickets, drives viewership, and transforms athletes into cultural icons. But this week, a stark contrast emerged in how two major women’s sports organizations handle that currency, centering on the undeniable phenomenon that is Caitlin Clark. While the LPGA Tour welcomed the basketball superstar with open arms and savvy marketing, reports suggest a lingering uneasiness within the WNBA—a hesitation that critics argue could be costing the league its biggest opportunity yet.

The scene at the Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida, was electric. Caitlin Clark, the WNBA Rookie of the Year and Indiana Fever sensation, traded her high-tops for golf spikes to participate in the pro-am event ahead of “The Annika,” the penultimate tournament of the LPGA season. What followed was a masterclass in cross-sport promotion.

From the moment Clark arrived, the energy shifted. Thousands of fans, many of whom had never attended a golf tournament before, lined the fairways just to catch a glimpse of the point guard. They wore her jerseys, held signs, and created a buzz usually reserved for the final round of a major championship. And the LPGA didn’t just tolerate the attention; they amplified it.

Golf legend and tournament host Annika Sorenstam was effusive in her praise. “It’s just great for women’s sports,” Sorenstam told reporters. “I love what she’s done for basketball, and her influence is just spilling over to other sports. We’re so lucky to have her here.”

World No. 1 golfer Nelly Korda, who played the front nine alongside Clark, echoed the sentiment. “It’s refreshing to see,” Korda said. “She’s brought so many new eyeballs to the LPGA. To see her passion for our sport and to share the stage with her—it’s a win-win for everyone.”

The LPGA’s social media channels were flooded with Clark content—videos of her swing, interactions with fans, and candid moments with players. They recognized that Clark’s fanbase is vast, loyal, and eager to follow her wherever she goes. By embracing her, the LPGA wasn’t just hosting a celebrity; they were borrowing her spotlight to illuminate their own athletes.

“It’s not rocket science,” said one sports marketing analyst. “When you have a unicorn like Clark, you don’t hide her. You put her on every billboard you can find. The LPGA gets that. They saw the wave coming and grabbed a surfboard.”

However, the warm reception on the golf course has reignited conversations about the chilly atmosphere Clark sometimes faces in her primary workplace. Throughout her record-breaking rookie season, narratives of jealousy and resentment have plagued the WNBA. Veteran players and pundits have occasionally framed her rapid ascent not as a tide lifting all boats, but as a disruption to the established order.

Reports from league insiders suggest a “quiet discomfort” among some WNBA circles regarding the sheer magnitude of Clark’s fame. There have been debates about media coverage equity, physical play targeting the rookie, and a general sense that the league was unprepared for the “Clark Effect.”

“The contrast is staggering,” noted a longtime sports columnist. “The LPGA sees her as an asset to be celebrated. The WNBA sometimes acts like she’s a problem to be managed. It’s almost as if they are afraid that her star shines too bright, rather than realizing that her light makes the whole room visible.”

The numbers don’t lie. Clark’s presence has shattered attendance records and TV ratings for the WNBA, just as her appearance at the pro-am brought unprecedented attention to the LPGA event. The difference lies in the narrative control. The LPGA framed her participation as a celebration of women’s excellence across disciplines. They didn’t worry about her overshadowing their golfers; they trusted that their product was strong enough to convert curious Clark fans into long-term golf enthusiasts.

Meanwhile, the WNBA continues to grapple with how to integrate a transcendent star into a league that prides itself on collective struggle and parity. While many individual players have welcomed Clark, the institutional response has often felt reactive rather than proactive.

As Clark signed autographs for a sea of young girls on the 18th green, smiling and chatting with Sorenstam, the message was clear: Star power transcends boundaries. The “Caitlin Clark Effect” is real, potent, and portable. The LPGA has shown a blueprint for how to harness it—with gratitude, excitement, and a lack of ego.

For the WNBA, the lesson from the golf course is simple but urgent. Envy and hesitation are bad for business. In the modern sports landscape, you either ride the wave or you get crushed by it. The LPGA chose to ride, and for a few sunny days in Florida, everyone was a winner. Whether the WNBA can fully adopt that mindset before the next season tips off remains the biggest question in women’s sports.