Caitlin Clark has taken the WNBA by storm since arriving on the scene. From packed arenas to surging TV ratings, her impact is clear every time she steps on the floor.
But not everyone thinks the league is making the most out of its newest star.
Veteran sports columnist Christine Brennan recently voiced her concerns in an interview with WHO13 in Iowa, where she discussed her upcoming book about Clark. Brennan didn’t hold back when criticizing WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert for what she sees as a missed opportunity to spotlight the Fever’s young phenom.
“She’s asked about Caitlin, and the answer always turns into something about Caitlin and Angel,” Brennan said. “But that’s not the question. It’s about Clark. This constant avoidance of the obvious—it’s baffling.”
Brennan argued that the WNBA has been reluctant to fully embrace Clark as its centerpiece, despite all signs pointing to her as the driving force behind the league’s growing popularity.
“This should be easy,” Brennan added. “It’s business 101. You’ve got a star. Build around her.”
She also pointed to what she felt was poor officiating in some games, especially during a matchup between the Fever and the Sun, where Clark was shoved after taking a poke to the eye. Brennan said the lack of protection from referees is troubling, particularly when Clark has become such a key figure in boosting attention for the league.
Even Clark herself has chimed in on the league’s decision-making.
“Someone Tell Cathy”: Caitlin Clark Questions Prize Money Discrepancy
The Indiana Fever clinched the Commissioner’s Cup with a win over the Minnesota Lynx on July 1 — all without Caitlin Clark, who sat out due to a groin injury. Despite not playing, Clark joined the postgame celebrations and joined Sydney Colson’s Instagram Live, where she questioned the payout structure.
“You get more for this than for winning the championship,” Clark said with a laugh. “Makes no sense. Someone tell Cathy to help us out.”
Each Fever player reportedly earned over $40,000 for the Commissioner’s Cup win — more than what champions take home at the end of the WNBA Finals.
With the next Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations set to happen during All-Star weekend in Indianapolis, that comment might not be the last time the Commissioner hears from Clark and others on the matter
For more basketball content, click on Hardwood Heroics. Sabel Reyes can be reached through sabelreyes22@gmail.com. Other websites under the Sports Heroics umbrella are Gridiron Heroics and Wisconsin Heroics.
Sabel has been working as a field reporter for People’s Television Network (PTV), mainly about the Philippine Basketball Association since 2016 and has been elevated to Executive Producer for sports in 2022. Aside from being on top of the Philippine sports scene, she is also a running enthusiast. You can also follow her on X at @SabelReyes2 and Instagram at @msabelreyes.
