It’s hard to imagine what the WNBA as a league thinks about Caitlin Clark, their most popular player since entering in 2024, after two surprising incidents this week that are either incompetence or intentional; both are embarrassing.

First, in their social media accounts, the league posted a commemorative 30th anniversary poster with 20 historic and actual players from all teams that have played in the league, but in the case of the Indiana Fever, they surprisingly chose Sophie Cunningham over Caitlin Clark. It is not because of her age, because Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers are on the poster.

Caitlin Clark takes a blow to the throat, and officials don’t call a foul

This season, the Fever will be the first team in WNBA history to have all of their regular-season games on National TV, thanks to the audience Clark has brought since her college days. Also, Clark is the main reason why 39 of the Fever’s 44 games this season will be played in NBA-sized arenas, with the only times the Fever won’t be in an NBA-caliber barn being in cities without a local franchise.

Stephen A. Smith Criticizes League’s Handling of Physical Play

During the Fever’s 111-109 loss to the Phoenix Mercury, Caitlin Clark was punched in the throat and stepped on by veteran Alyssa Thomas. No foul was called, even after reviewing it, as Thomas was caught on camera jamming her fist into Clark’s throat. It took time for the league office to suspend Thomas for one game and fine her $1,000. 

As head coach Stephanie White bluntly noted, the ongoing “cheap shots” and perceived indifference from the league are “absolutely unacceptable” if the WNBA intends to continue its rapid ascent.

Stephen A. Smith believes the league is creating problems due to the treatment of Clark, the most popular player. “What you don’t do is have such a disdain and disregard for her that her coach is complaining about intentional harm being aimed in her direction because of the resentment that she fuels,” Smith said.

He compared Clark’s box-office appeal to that of Michael Jordan, noting, “You ride that wave. You want to beat Caitlin Clark, beat her playing basketball. Compromising her ability to play, because if she ain’t playing, it’s going to affect ratings, and if it’s affecting ratings, then it’s affecting revenue, and if it’s affecting revenue, then you’re not going to build the sport the way you hope to build the sport.”

It is bizarre how commissioner Cathy Engelbert has managed the Caitlin Clark era, especially as the star was the most-voted player in history for the All-Star game last year and will likely finish at the top again this year. 

The poster post from the league and the lack of an in-game flagrant foul call make it obvious that they need to promote Clark in a whole different way.