For what seems like an eternity, the WNBA has faced relentless ridicule. People frequently criticize the league, often with comments like, “I don’t like the WNBA because it’s just not good.” Fans have mocked their empty championship parades, laughed at their small MVP trophies that look like dollar store finds, and some have even fallen asleep courtside at games. Online, jokes circulate, like the one about someone having two WNBA tickets in their car, only to have it broken into—now they have four tickets. The point is clear: the perception and reputation of the WNBA have been far from stellar.

This week, the WNBA expanded to 10 teams, adding franchises in Detroit and Washington D.C. But before you get too excited about the new additions, it’s important to remember that all the players are still women. Honestly, as a basketball fan who follows the NBA religiously, the only WNBA “trade” that ever caught my attention was when Brittney Griner was traded for the “Merchant of Death.” That might seem like a cruel joke, but I say it to emphasize that the WNBA has been so unpopular and under the radar that even huge basketball fans rarely hear about it.

Recently, however, that has changed. Caitlin Clark. Caitlin Clark. Caitlin Clark. University of Iowa. From every corner of the basketball world, We’ve been hearing about Caitlin Clark. Even during the 2024 NBA Finals, Caitlin Clark’s news made waves. As a basketball fan, it’s impossible to ignore her. After watching her interviews, her games, and reading about her, it’s clear why the hype surrounds her. Her shooting is out of this world, and every other facet of her game is equally remarkable. People have been calling her the female Steph Curry, and some have compared her to the legendary Pistol Pete Maravich.

Before she even stepped onto a WNBA court, Caitlin Clark was already being mentioned alongside some of the greatest players of all time. At the moment, she is single-handedly transforming women’s basketball. It’s no exaggeration to say that she’s the most monumental women’s basketball player of all time. In a league that has been losing money every year since its inception, she is arguably the only person with the ability to attract fans, fill stadiums, and drive up revenue.

Just yesterday, 17,000 people showed up to a game—at 10:30 in the morning. Caitlin’s rise reminds me of Ronda Rousey, the former UFC champion who put women’s MMA on the map when no one else was interested. From that perspective, the WNBA should be immensely grateful. They finally have the opportunity to rise from the shadows into the spotlight. And yet, they’re attacking her, bullying her, and doing everything they can to corner and eliminate her. Why is that? Why is the WNBA openly attacking their golden girl—the one player who has the real chance to transform their sport forever?

Therefore, we’ll be peeling back the layers of controversy to get to the heart of the matter concerning Caitlin Clark.

To understand why WNBA players are attacking Caitlin Clark, we must first understand the WNBA’s unique culture. About seven years ago, a former WNBA champion and high lottery pick revealed that she was bullied in the league due to her sexual orientation and popularity. In her own words, she said, “I wanted to play two more seasons in the WNBA, but the experience didn’t lend itself to my mental state. I didn’t like the culture inside the WNBA. Without revealing too much, it was toxic for me. My spirit was being broken.”

Many WNBA players denied her claims, insisting her experience was personal and not reflective of the league as a whole. While that perspective is fair, her account sounds more valid when you consider other stories. For instance, when Luka Dončić first entered the NBA, he attempted to support the WNBA by creating what seemed to be a harmless video:

“What’s up, Arike? I know you’re having a great season, so keep pushing. I know you’re going to be Rookie of the Year, so best of luck to you.”

The video was harmless, leaning towards positive. The WNBA could have thanked him or stayed silent if they disapproved. Instead, the Minnesota Lynx harshly responded with a tweet: “Says a guy who hasn’t been to a WNBA game all season but got sent a jersey and recorded a scripted video.” The tweet is still there if you want to search for it. It was never deleted, reflecting a certain mindset within the WNBA.

This kind of passive-aggressive, sometimes toxic culture seems to permeate the WNBA. Complaints from the league are persistent, much like children insisting they deserve higher pay because NBA players earn so much. “We are not asking to get paid what the men get paid. We’re asking to get paid the same percentage of revenue shared,” some WNBA players say.

So, how does all of this relate to Caitlin Clark? The WNBA revealed its true colors when it came to the star from Iowa. Caitlin has been dedicated to basketball her entire life. From a young age, basketball has meant everything to her. She even had a dream board in second grade, aspiring to one day play in the WNBA. She plays with emotion and passion, and when she steps out of line, such as when she complains to officials, her dad is always there to check her. Like Steph Curry, she says all the right things and is a great ambassador for the sport.

Yet, this was all it took for the WNBA to start bearing its fangs at her. When Candace Wiggins spoke about the toxicity in the WNBA, many players denied her claims. No other players supported her, leading some to believe it might have been an isolated incident. However, seeing how the league has treated Caitlin Clark, it now seems clear that Wiggins’ claims held substantial truth. Ever since Caitlin emerged as the biggest star in women’s basketball, WNBA legends have tried to downplay and belittle her achievements.

Take, for example, Diana Taurasi, voted as the greatest of all time (GOAT) in the WNBA and widely regarded as a champion for fair pay and women’s basketball. One would expect her to fully support Caitlin, but instead, her words have conveyed a different sentiment. When it was announced that Caitlin would be excluded from Team USA’s roster, Diana remarked that at 20 years old, Caitlin was too young and making the team was challenging. However, when the interviewer reminded her that Diana herself had made the roster at that age, she responded smugly: “Yeah, after I won three national championships.”

Diana’s attitude reflects a deep-rooted sense of superiority. Despite the WNBA struggling financially and Caitlin showing immense potential to revitalize the league, Diana seems more interested in preserving her own legacy than supporting the league’s future star.

To put it simply: the WNBA is at a crossroads. They can either embrace Caitlin Clark and allow her to lift the league to new heights, or they can continue to stifle her potential with jealousy, toxicity, and hostility. Time will tell which path they choose.