The WNBA just got exposed in the most embarrassing way possible. Legendary USA Today journalist Christine Brennan decided she’d had enough of the nonsense and dropped truth so massive it practically flattened league headquarters. We’re talking about receipts, pettiness, and a complete gutting of the WNBA’s credibility when it comes to how they’ve mishandled Caitlin Clark of WNBA Indiana Fever
She broke records.
She sold out arenas.
She pulled in fans who had never watched a WNBA game before.
And according to USA Today’s Christine Brennan, the league had no idea what to do with her.
In a series of interviews tied to the release of her latest book, Brennan—a veteran sports journalist and one of the most respected voices in women’s athletics—has pulled back the curtain on what she calls a “staggering mishandling” of Caitlin Clark’s rise.
And the revelations are sparking a much-needed reckoning.
A League Unprepared for Its Own Revolution
Brennan’s reporting doesn’t hold back.
“The league wanted growth,” she writes. “But when it arrived in the form of a 6-foot Iowa guard with a magnetic smile and a Steph Curry release, it hesitated. It blinked. It backed away.”
Instead of elevating Clark as a generational figure, the WNBA fumbled her rollout—keeping her off national marketing materials, scheduling her games inconsistently, and remaining largely silent during the early weeks of targeted physical play on the court.
“This was their Tiger Woods moment,” Brennan said. “And they treated it like business as usual.”
Internal Jealousy and Misaligned Messaging
In interviews with players and league insiders, Brennan paints a picture of a league caught between its grassroots culture and its commercial potential.
Some veteran players reportedly felt Clark was getting “too much too soon.” Others questioned why her presence seemed to eclipse long-standing contributors to the league.
And leadership? Caught in the middle—trying to placate both sides while failing to lead either.
“There was no clear plan,” Brennan explains. “Only reaction.”
The Missed Marketing Moment of a Generation
Clark’s rookie season has been a commercial phenomenon:
TV ratings up 200%
WNBA ticket resale prices at an all-time high
Clark-branded merchandise outselling every other player combined
But even as she broke records, Brennan notes the league failed to feature her in primetime slots consistently. Her image was notably absent from league-wide marketing pushes early in the season.
“She gave them everything they said they wanted,” Brennan writes. “And they still looked away.”
A League Resisting Its Own Breakthrough?
Brennan doesn’t just call out missed media opportunities—she digs deeper into the culture of discomfort surrounding individual stardom in the WNBA.
“There’s a mentality that anything too popular too fast must be inauthentic,” she says. “And that thinking is dangerous.”
Clark’s ability to connect with mainstream audiences—young girls, sports dads, casual fans—was viewed by some insiders not as a gift, but as a threat to the league’s long-held identity.
Rather than embracing the attention, Brennan suggests, the WNBA tried to mute it.
The Consequences of Silence
Clark has remained mostly diplomatic through it all. She’s spoken with her game, not with soundbites. But fans and commentators have filled the void.
“Why isn’t she more protected on the court?”
“Why isn’t she front and center in league ads?”
“Why is she benched late in games while opponents go for her ankles?”
According to Brennan, the league’s unwillingness to publicly address these concerns has created a perception problem—one that’s now being amplified across social media, podcasts, and sports panels.
“This isn’t about favoritism,” she says. “It’s about missed opportunity.”
A Warning for What Comes Next
Perhaps Brennan’s most stinging observation is this:
“If the WNBA can’t figure out how to support a player like Caitlin Clark, it may never figure out how to grow at all.”
Because Clark isn’t just a player. She’s a proof of concept.
She’s what happens when preparation meets talent and visibility.
And the league’s reluctance to fully embrace that equation could cost them everything they’ve built so far.
Final Thought: Growth Requires Courage
Christine Brennan’s expose isn’t an attack. It’s a challenge.
To the players: embrace the attention. It lifts everyone.
To the league: stop reacting. Start leading.
To the fans: keep watching. Keep asking questions.
And to Caitlin Clark?
Keep playing your game.
Because whether the WNBA is ready or not… the revolution already started.
