Why does the WNBA hate Caitlin Clark?

A few weeks ago, the 2024 WNBA Draft took place in Brooklyn, NYC, and Caitlin Clark was the obvious choice for number one. The Indiana Fever, coming off a brutal 2023-2024 campaign, needed this "do-it-all" star out of Des Moines, Iowa. From the moment her name was called, all cameras and attention were on her. Clark, 22, was coming off another stellar season at Iowa, winning National Player of the Year for the second time in her four-year collegiate career; looked poised to take on a significant role in the offense and become the new face of a seemingly struggling to gain attention league. For the WNBA, Clark's arrival also signified an opportunity to draw more attention and fans to the league. With her dynamic playing style and substantial following from her college days, she had the potential to become a prominent face in women's basketball, attracting new audiences and boosting the league's profile. The Indiana Fever, with Clark at the helm, aimed to capitalize on her star power to build a more cohesive and formidable team. The hope was that her leadership would inspire her teammates and foster a strong, winning mentality. However, things would go differently than planned; the Fever currently have a two-win nine-loss record and Clark has gained more attention for how opposing players or coaches are treating her than her performance.

Instead of being "welcomed" into the league as the generational player she is, who has inspired hundreds of young girls to follow in her footsteps, she is put down by league veterans and past superstar players. Without even playing a minute of professional women's basketball, former and current players were determined that Clark's game would flop and the electrifying college player would not translate over. She accumulated so much "hate" before being able to prove herself, and even after she had played, the critics became even louder, and not because of her numbers. Players egregiously fouled her, coaches taunted her. Is this the example that the players and the WNBA should set for the future generation of basketball players? For someone labeled the next "Lebron James of Women's Basketball," she is getting no love from the media, and the league barely attempts to protect her as a player. Why is it that instead of being supported by the league as a whole(she has brought considerable attention and endorsements with her upon being drafted), she is taunted and looked down upon? The WNBA better understand quickly that if this type of attitude continues, the league's brightest star could fizzle out, or worse, all the attention and publicity will be for nothing. Clark's experience highlights a troubling issue within the league: a lack of support for new talent, particularly those who carry the potential to elevate the sport to new heights. If the league does not address this and foster a more inclusive and supportive environment, it risks alienating Clark and future stars. Despite these challenges, her performance has shown promise, with flashes of brilliance that made her a standout in college. Yet, the hostility she faces from opponents and the lack of protection from referees and league officials have overshadowed her accomplishments. Why is the sport's newest star being put down so quickly? Why does the WNBA hate Caitlin Clark?