Caitlin Clark is the first rookie in league history to achieve a triple-double in the WNBA. The former Iowa star has transitioned seamlessly to the professional level. She is pacing the league in assists while recently setting a new single-game record with 19 assists. Her outstanding performance has sparked controversy and criticism regarding how the WNBA has handled their new phenom.
Playing for the WNBA All-Star team, Clark helped orchestrate a 117-109 win over the USA women’s Olympic squad. She had 10 assists, one shy of Sue Bird’s All-Star record, with pinpoint passing that was key to teammate Arike Ogunbowale’s record-breaking 34-point performance. This display on one of basketball’s grandest stages begs the question: How could Clark not be suiting up for Team USA in the Paris Olympics?
Fox Sports Radio host Colin Cowherd, on his show “The Herd,” expressed his frustration with the WNBA’s handling of Clark. He labelled league leadership as myopic and exclusionary, claiming they’re unprepared for Clark’s transcendence. “Women’s basketball keeps saying Caitlin Clark isn’t ready,” Cowherd fumed. “But it’s the other way around. Clark is more than ready. It’s women’s basketball that isn’t ready for her.” He drew unflattering comparisons to the NBA’s embrace of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird as rookies, suggesting the WNBA’s reluctance to promote Clark reveals a deep-seated ‘insecurity’.
USA Today via Reuters
The radio host used Clark’s performance in the recent WNBA All-Star game as proof without contradiction of her readiness. Clark helped lead her team to victory over the U.S. Olympic squad, dishing out 10 assists, and proving herself as the game’s best playmaker. Cowherd highlighted Clark’s consistent excellence: in seven of her last eight games, she has recorded double-digit assists—an achievement remarkable for any player, especially a rookie.
WNBA ‘Gatekeeping’ Caitlin Clark’s Career
The WNBA wasn’t prepared for Clark’s arrival this season. “You can’t say she caught you off-guard,” Cowherd said. “She was breaking college records for years.” The league should have had a marketing plan in place for her. He compared the WNBA’s current marketing strategy to how the NBA promoted their stars earlier in their careers. He mentioned how the NBA promoted Magic Johnson and Larry Bird during their early years, but the WNBA lacks that same push for Caitlin Clark. Cowherd assumed there had to be a lack of confidence within the league.
He also criticized the decision to exclude Clark from the skills competition. It won’t draw nearly as many views without her in the mix. According to Cowherd, the WNBA is missing a significant opportunity to showcase its rising star. He praised Clark for handling the situation well, citing her response to not being included in the Olympic team as proof of her readiness for prime time.
