RICH LOWRY: Does the WNBA not like Caitlin Clark?

RICH LOWRY: Does the WNBA not like Caitlin Clark? By Rich Lowry King Features July 11, 2026 - 9:01 pm What sports league, having received a generational talent who has performed brilliantly and generated massive commercial returns, would treat that same player as unwelcome and subject to scorn? The WNBA. Caitlin Clark entered the league three seasons ago already recognized as a superstar and one of the top players in the sport’s history. Her arrival instantly elevated the franchise—previously a commercially marginal operation—to a new level. For her efforts, the Indiana Fever star has been treated like a microorganism that the league’s antibodies seek to reject. The latest controversy arose when a Phoenix Mercury player, Alyssa Thomas, pressed her fist against Clark’s neck while the Fever defender lay prone on the court. Officials missed the foul in real time, but the league later classified it as a flagrant foul and suspended Thomas for one game. The incident was shocking given Clark’s importance to the game—comparable to Tom Brady being clotheslined or Shohei Ohtani being hit by a pitch, with referees or umpires failing to notice. Still, ABC News aired a sympathetic segment about Thomas, who is Black, describing the death threats she received after the incident. Sports commentator Emmanuel Acho remarked that the episode showed Clark is more trouble than she is worth. This echoes the sentiment sometimes expressed in the 1940s and 1950s that Major League Baseball did not need Ted Williams. Although Clark has not yet proven herself one of the league’s all‑time top offensive forces the way Teddy Ballgame did, she still has a chance if she remains steadfast. Doing so would give the WNBA the best opportunity to shield her from hard fouls on the court. Players who envy Clark should recognize that the only thing a segment of fans cares about regarding the league is that she is playing in it. A player who is highly skilled, celebrated, and charismatic is a priceless asset for any league, and the entire WNBA should be grateful for what it has in Clark. People used to say of the New York Yankees that Yankees are born, not made. In a similar vein, the WNBA could have possessed an unlimited marketing budget and still been unable to manufacture the Caitlin Clark phenomenon—it is innate and not replicable. Clark fills arenas at home and on the road; teams occasionally shift to larger NBA venues to accommodate the crowds. She drives significant spikes in TV ratings. Her jersey is the league’s bestseller. By one estimate, she accounts for more than a fourth of the league’s revenue. In terms of pure economic value, Caitlin Clark is the Elon Musk of the WNBA. The foundation of her appeal lies in her genuine excellence on the court—a top scorer and exceptional playmaker. This season she averages about 21 points and eight assists per game. She holds the record for most assists in a game and most