In his classic, never-subtle style, Stephen A. Smith has once again left jaws on the floor, this time slamming the WNBA for fumbling a golden opportunity. The chance they missed? Elevating the league’s hottest commodity—Caitlin Clark. Yes, the 2024 Rookie of the Year and fan magnet who single-handedly turned Indiana Fever games into must-see TV. And in typical Stephen A. fashion, he didn’t hold back.
“Are y’all ready to admit how stupid it was not to go all-in to promote Caitlin Clark?!” Smith barked during his latest YouTube rant, probably while tossing papers off his desk for dramatic effect. He wasn’t just talking about her insane stat line or record-breaking three-pointers; no, Smith was talking about something bigger—the kind of star power that could’ve skyrocketed the league to another level. And yet, somehow, the WNBA didn’t roll out the red carpet for Clark in the way Smith believes they should have.
Caitlin Clark: The Ratings Queen You Didn’t See Coming
Clark, who has been breaking records like they’re going out of style, didn’t just bring her A-game to the court. She brought the crowds. Think of her as basketball’s version of Beyoncé—except instead of sold-out concerts, she was filling stadiums. The Indiana Fever, a team that used to struggle to fill seats, suddenly became the hottest ticket in town. Before Clark? Barely a whisper in the stands. After Clark? Over 17,000 screaming fans per game. That’s over 300,000 fans in a single season. Yeah, not bad for a rookie.
But it wasn’t just in-person buzz; the TV ratings soared, too. Her games smashed records on ESPN, CBS, ABC, and even NBA TV, making them can’t-miss events. “Before she joined, no WNBA game had crossed 1 million viewers since 2008,” Smith pointed out. Clark alone shattered that glass ceiling, with 23 games surpassing that milestone—20 of which she played in. The numbers don’t lie, folks.
Missed Opportunities and Fumbled Promotions
Despite all this, Smith feels the WNBA dropped the ball. “Y’all could have reaped the benefits,” he said, likely pacing in front of a green screen. “Higher television ratings, higher attendance figures.” But instead of treating Clark like the golden goose she is, the league (according to Smith) sat on their hands.
Smith even took shots at WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes, who he says was reluctant to give Clark her flowers. “Sheryl Swoopes? You can’t acknowledge this girl? Come on now!” Smith raged, probably with that signature furrowed brow of disbelief.
Smith argued that pushing Clark as the face of the WNBA—possibly even giving her a spot on Team USA—could’ve catapulted the league to heights it hadn’t seen in years. But the WNBA didn’t “go there.” “You didn’t do it, you didn’t want to,” Smith added, clearly bewildered.
Collective Bargaining Drama: The WNBA’s Next Hurdle
Clark’s stardom came at a critical moment for the WNBA. Just when you thought it couldn’t get juicier, the players voted to opt out of their collective bargaining agreement (CBA), setting up a showdown between the league and its players by the end of the 2025 season. The current CBA, inked in 2020, was supposed to carry them to 2027, but clearly, the players had other ideas.
The WNBA Players Association wants a bigger slice of the pie—think revenue sharing, and maybe even ownership stakes. WNBPA Executive Director Terri Carmichael Jackson summed it up bluntly: “The players opted out of the CBA to save the league from its own limitations.” Translation: “We’re done playing small ball. Time to go big.”
But the million-dollar question remains: Can the WNBA and its players hash out a deal in time to avoid a lockout? Commissioner Cathy Engelbert sounded cautiously optimistic, saying, “We look forward to working with the players on a new CBA that’s fair for all.” However, if history tells us anything, negotiations rarely go as planned, and if they botch this one, the WNBA might be staring down the barrel of another CBA disaster—just like 2006.
What’s Next for Caitlin Clark and the WNBA?
As the WNBA tries to figure out how not to sabotage itself in the upcoming CBA talks, one thing is certain: Caitlin Clark isn’t going anywhere. If anything, she’s just getting started. Whether it’s setting new viewership records, packing arenas, or making Stephen A. Smith blow a gasket, Clark’s influence on the league is undeniable.
So, if the WNBA wants to avoid more of Stephen A.’s rants and capitalize on this momentum, they might want to rethink how they promote their stars. Otherwise, they’ll be left wondering what could’ve been while Clark continues to make history—and possibly hits her next million-viewer game.
