Is Caitlin Clark unfairly treated as the face of the WNBA?

Becoming an elite player in any sport warrants some respect and adulation for what that particular player has brought to the game and what they continue to do to make a sport better.

In the case of WNBA star Caitlin Clark, her rise has sparked opinions of hatred and subsequent targeting when she stepped on the floor.

NBA legend Charles Barkley is known to speak his mind, and had some pointed thoughts about the way Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark was treated in her rookie season.

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He spoke out against the treatment of Caitlin Clark by other WNBA players, describing it as "petty and jealous" on The Bill Simmons Podcast.

Barkley's strong words come after months of Clark being visibly treated differently than other players in the WNBA, with opponents targeting her physically. Barkley also pointed out Clark's performances and stature as a nationally recognizable figure should be celebrated rather than mocked.

Barkley seems mostly angry around Clark's treatment as it has led to more media attention towards that, than towards the play, with the former 76er saying, "I'm a WNBA fan—it's been a good season—but they couldn't have fu* **d this Caitlin Clark thing up any worse if they tried."

Clark has been one of the biggest sports stars in the world over the past year, with her performances in college and the WNBA ensuring she has remained in the spotlight. Even then, her exclusion from the US women's Olympic team led to some extended controversy. Let's take a look at how she has been treated so far in her nascent career.

Clark is arguably the biggest star in the WNBA right now, but for some, the league hasn't been on the same level as the Indiana Fever's point guard.

According to Fox News, OutKick's Dan Dakich said: "Not only should you have known that Caitlin Clark was going to be a star, but you should also have prepared for it. You should have said, 'Look, this is what is getting ready to happen, so let's do everything to enhance.'"

"Meaning, let's make sure she's on the Olympic team. Let's make sure that other (WNBA) women are smart enough not to be morons to her. But that didn't happen, and they have to [go] through all this garbage. All of this c--p and Cathy Engelbert didn't understand it."

Dakich's comments come after WNBA commissioner Engelbert said: "These generational rookies like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, that rivalry coming out of college. I didn't know it would happen this quickly, but the attendance, viewership, and everything has gone great. "

According to Essentially Sport, the 'Caitlin Clark Effect' started in college when the women's 2024 National Championship game had 18.9 million viewers, making it the most-watched basketball game since 2019.

The numbers don't lie in the WNBA either, especially for the Indiana Fever, who have seen an increase of 264.6% in audiences for home and away games. Secondly, the team has had 38 nationally televised games, the most they have ever had.

Since joining Indiana in May, the team has seen a 1193% increase in their jersey sales, setting a single-game team store sales record four times. They have the best home and away attendance and have the largest number of team sponsors, giving them a 225% increase in corporate partnerships.

The JD Supra website reports that when Clark plays, WNBA attendance is 105% than when she does not. When the Indiana Fever plays on the road, the opponent's home attendance jumps 87%.

The numbers clearly show that Clark is the box-office attraction in the WNBA, but is Dan Dakich, right? Throughout the season, Clark has been targeted by other players and has spent time on the sidelines after some overly aggressive defense.

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Clark has been subject to numerous un-sportsmanlike plays in the WNBA, with Chennedy Carter bodying her to the floor off the ball, New York's Brianna Stewart setting a screen that burst her ear drum, and Seattle's Ezi Magbegor hitting her on the head, in a blocked shot.

The WNBA hasn't done enough to protect their superstar from hard fouls, and they could potentially see the downside to that in the future, with small niggles turning into long and reoccurring injuries if she isn't protected more by the referees.

With a 105% increase in spectators when she plays, the league hasn't done enough to ensure she is protected on the floor. As well as that, jealousy from fellow WNBA players in the media has cast a shadow on the Clark phenomenon.

According to the Daily Mail, in June, Chicago Sky star Angel Reese said: "I'll look back in 20 years and be like: ''Yes, the reason why we're watching women's basketball isn't just because of one person . It's because of me, too,'' and I want you to realize that."

Clark was left off the Paris Olympic team, to the shock of many basketball fans. Taking the Fever Guard was the perfect ticket to take their most popular star to the other side of the world to enhance the WNBA, but they decided against it.

Clark could have made a similar impact to the 1992 Team USA 'Dream Team,' featuring Michael Jordan, and how they grew the NBA product exponentially after the Olympics. However, it wasn't to be for the WNBA and Clark.

Dakich added: "You had this tornado hit, and you weren't ready. You had this tornado hit, and you didn't enhance. Your insecurity shined brightly. But despite all that, Caitlin Clark, the WNBA, and Angel Reese have grown."

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