Missed Opportunities: The WNBA’s Silence on Caitlin Clark is so Bad of a Fumble that It Sparks Major Backlash

The WNBA had a golden opportunity to capitalize on the immense star power of Caitlin Clark—arguably the league’s most marketable rookie—and they blew it spectacularly. This isn’t just a misstep; it’s a glaring failure in a moment that could have amplified the league’s relevance beyond its core audience.

Caitlin Clark and Taylor Swift: The Untapped Viral Moment

Clark, a household name in women’s basketball, was recently spotted sitting alongside Taylor Swift, the most famous pop star on the planet, during a Kansas City Chiefs game. The NFL broadcast didn’t just acknowledge Clark’s presence; they highlighted her basketball journey, celebrated her accolades, and even tied her to WNBA legends like Candace Parker.

The NFL, a league with no vested interest in women’s basketball, managed to do more to promote Clark—and by extension, the WNBA—in a single game than the WNBA has done all year. Millions of viewers were introduced to Clark’s brilliance, her Rookie of the Year status, and her ties to basketball greatness. Meanwhile, the WNBA’s response? Crickets.

WNBA Media’s Reluctance to Promote

The WNBA seems trapped in its own contradictions. On one hand, it’s hesitant to lean too heavily on Caitlin Clark for fear of alienating other players and fanbases. On the other hand, it isn’t making a concerted effort to promote the league’s stars collectively. Instead of celebrating Clark’s viral moments or Angel Reese’s bold presence, the league appears stuck in a cycle of inaction, prioritizing internal debates over external growth.

Even when sports commentators like Sarah Spain try to encourage a crossover audience by suggesting Swifties attend WNBA games, the response from vocal corners of the WNBA’s fanbase has been unnecessarily toxic, accusing her of ulterior motives. This hostility creates a toxic environment that alienates potential allies and limits the league’s reach.

Off-Court Celebrity Matters

Off-court celebrity is where leagues grow their fanbase. The NBA has mastered this, with stars like LeBron James and Steph Curry dominating headlines whether they’re on the court or courtside. The WNBA now has players like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and A’ja Wilson who can command attention beyond the game, yet the league fails to leverage their popularity.

It’s baffling. When Clark is with Taylor Swift, Reese is on a red carpet, or Wilson is at a high-profile event, these moments should be front-page stories for WNBA media. Instead, these opportunities are often ignored or overshadowed by trivial controversies.

The Bigger Picture

This isn’t just about Caitlin Clark. The WNBA must learn to promote all its stars while recognizing that ignoring its most marketable players only hurts the league. The NFL’s casual yet effective promotion of Clark during the Chiefs broadcast is a masterclass the WNBA needs to study.

The league has come a long way from being mocked in mainstream sports discourse to producing trendy, marketable athletes. But if it continues to fumble moments like this, it risks losing the momentum it has worked so hard to build.