WNBA doesn't want Caitlin Clark-related questions, even though ratings have dropped since her elimination

Christine Brennan faces heat over Clark inquiry

he arrival of Caitlin Clark completely shook up the WNBA. Not only because of her talent on the court, which helped the Indiana Fever return to the Playoffs after several years, but also because her mere presence on any court in the league has increased the number of fans in the stadiums and also in television broadcasts.

That’s why, now that the Fever were eliminated in the first round, the audience numbers have dropped sharply and she is still making headlines at press conferences even when her team is not playing. The Caitlin effect is what is holding the league together.

Caitlin Clark stuns with bold offseason remarks

Longtime sports reporter Christine Brennan has found herself in hot water after a recent question about WNBA star Caitlin Clark sparked significant backlash from fans and colleagues alike. The drama unfolded right after Game 1 of the WNBA playoff series between the Indiana Fever and the Connecticut Sun when Brennan asked Sun guard DiJonai Carrington if she had intentionally poked Clark in the eye.

Despite Carrington’s denial, Brennan followed up with a pointed question, referencing a moment in the fourth quarter where Carrington and a teammate were seen laughing. She inquired whether they were laughing about the eye poke, prompting a confused Carrington to clarify that the hit was not intentional and that she didn’t even realize she had made contact with Clark.

Did sports journalist go too far with Clark question?

Brennan’s line of questioning drew heavy criticism, with the Women’s National Basketball Players Association accusing her of attempting to “bait” Carrington into making a controversial statement. This prompted many to wonder if her focus on Clark was overshadowing the broader context of the league.

Despite the backlash, Brennan appeared on CNN the following Monday and stood firm, expressing no regrets about her question. In her view, she was simply doing her job as a journalist. “I’m supposed to cover the big story,” she asserted, defending her approach.

The mixed reception from her peers highlights a divide within sports journalism. Some believe Brennan was merely fulfilling her journalistic duties, while others argue her approach detracts from the league’s growth. Gregory Lee Jr., a former editor at The Athletic, expressed concern about her singular focus on Clark, stating, “Her coverage has gone way beyond what is normal. You’re asking, ‘Is she Caitlin Clark’s PR agent?‘”

This controversy is further complicated by Brennan’s current work on a book about Clark, leading some to suggest that her coverage might be biased. Terri Carmichael Jackson, executive director of the WNBA Players Association, described the situation as “exhausting,” stating, “You are doing a disservice to the history [by focusing only on Caitlin].”

Brennan, however, defended her approach by referencing her past experiences covering other sports, likening her coverage of Clark to the extensive columns she wrote about Tiger Woods during his peak. “Over the years covering golf, I wrote probably over 100 columns on Tiger Woods and ignored almost all the other golfers,” she remarked. Despite the criticism, Brennan insists that she’s simply giving players a platform to address the issues being discussed online.