For the past month, I have been perusing YouTube and some other websites to get news on the WNBA. What I am finding tells me that the people following this sport must be the same ones that write about politics. Why? Because there is enough sensationalism out there to fill a novel of science fiction with enough left over to have multiple sequels.
Let’s take the woman who drives the most traffic in the WNBA, Caitlin Clark. No matter if you like or not like her, she is the biggest mover of the needle for ratings in the league, possibly in all of women’s sports. I am writing this on 5/13/26 and let me tell you the first 5 YouTube entries that I see about Caitlin Clark.
Caitlin Clark BREAKS Radio Host MENTALLY! As He UNLOADS On UNHINGED Rant To TEAR HER DOWN
Angel Reese’s Dream KILLS Caitlin Clark Star
STEPHEN A. SMITH JUST CONFIRMS CAITLIN CLARK WANTS TO QUIT INDIANA AFTER DRAMA WITH STEPHANIE WHITE
STEPHANIE WHITE EFFECT! Fever Ratings DROP in Caitlin Clark RETURN! Fans ROAST Injury Report!
Caitlin Clark PISSES OFF Old Guard WNBA ACTIVIST FANS! Walks Out w/ MORGAN WALLEN At Concert!
So, story #1 is how she didn’t like a radio host questions or attitude. The second is that the Fever lost their first game against the Dallas Wings and how the Indiana Fever are having problems selling tickets. The third is about the supposed feud between player and head coach. The fourth is about the same as the 3rd. And finally, the fifth one is about the backlash that Caitlin Clark got when she went to a Morgan Waller concert after the fever lost to the Wings. Plus, that her appearing at the concert proves that she is a racist.
Looks like each of these YouTube posts could have been done by one person just because the way that the headlines look. But you would be mistaken. The headlines have been taken from the following channels: The Ben Daniel Podcast, Jason Whitlock, Black And White Sports Too, and Top WNBA up. But take a look at those headlines again. They are insane for the period after game #1 of the season. And there are more YouTube creators out there that are doing the exact same thing.
Talk about chicken Little and the sky is falling. The Fever have played one game, and these creators are losing their mind. Going by what those headlines are saying, the star player of the WNBA is stressed to the max, wanting her coach fired, causing a television ratings drop, wants out of Indiana, and is now second fiddle to Angel Reese because the Dream are 2-0 on this season. Oh, and she doesn’t care according to “Old School WNBA” fans that she lost because she attended a concert after said lost game and is racist for appearing with Waller on stage. People need to grow the hell up. (Hell isn’t the first word I thought of for that sentence). Yes, she is the most popular player in the league, I am also going to give her credit for being responsible for some of the gains in popularity, attendance and ratings throughout the league. For those that defend everything that she has done and is doing, stop being outraged about anything that is said about her that could be used as criticism against her. Just because her shortcoming are pointed out, doesn’t mean that they are wrong. She isn’t the best player in the WNBA, so yes there are shortcomings. Plus it helps nobody when you do sensational headlines to grab views but you have no idea of what you are saying is true or not. Gotta love YouTube.
On the other hand, the people that have been covering the WNBA from before Caitlin came into the WNBA need to slow their roll on criticizing her and her fans. Yes, she isn’t the best player in the WNBA, but I would put her in the Top 20. I would also praise her when she doles out compliments to other players and those who came before her. I bet she could name some of the franchises that the WNBA had when she was growing up and are no longer part of the league like the Detroit Shock, the Houston Comets, the Miami Sol, etc., etc. Listen to her and just imagine if all players were the same way in giving praise to the legends and those that have faded from our memories that used to be in the WNBA during those first 25 years. People would learn more about the struggles that the league, teams, and players have gone through. They would also have more appreciation for what they have now in the product.
Finally, let’s talk about the heavy subject that is in all sports and their fanbases. Race. It has come to the attention of many people that there are osme players that have said that Indiana Fever fans are racist. That the new fans that followed Caitlin Clark to the WNBA have said racist things to the black players from the opposing team on the court. I have no doubt that there are some racist fans that support the Indiana Fever. To say that there is not would be willingly ignorant. But until I hear Caitlin Clark say something that puts down a race or does some gesture or action that shows that she has put down an entire race, then I will not call her a racist. People are always using race to divide us, and it has always happened in the WNBA. Way before Clark arrived. Don’t agree with that statement, ask Sue Bird who has stated that. I will take that word as gospel. I will also take Sheryl Swoopes at her word that she isn’t racist because she is black. On second thought, no I won’t. I don’t believe that is the case. If you have hatred for any race just because, you are racist. Doesn’t matter if you hate whites, blacks, asians, or any other people because of their skin color or what the represent. So, when Stoopes made that statement, I cringed and put in the back of my mind that she has a racist bias against white people. Telling us that you grew up in a white town and have white friends doesn’t absolve you of that statement, in my humble opinion.
The final point about this and this post is about Morgan Wallin. In 2021, he used the N-word. Black people called him racist for using that word. Don’t disagree with them. And some are calling Caitlin Clark racist for appearing with him on stage. I might agree with them, but here is the problem with that stance. Where was the outrage when other sports people appeared with Wallin after that incident. Where was the outrage and calling Patrick Mahomes a racist when he appeared with Waller? After all, just because you can claim that you a part of a race doesn’t mean that you can’t be racist towards that same race. How about Myles Garrett? Marshawn Lynch anyone? Or Mike Tyson who has been in prison for Raping an 18-year old woman? Does he get labeled a racist and a rapist? Just asking because I’m not up on the rules of how things go.
I lied. Final fact before the post is done. You remember Chris Brown, the serial abuser of many females. Merriam-Webster has goon as a synonym for abuser. So I will use that here. Where was the outrage over Paige Bueckers and Dawn Staley attending the concert and posing with the goon when he was touring? Did anyone that is calling Caitlin Clark a racist, call either one of those ladies a female misogynist? Like I said, I don’t know the rules about when you can call someone a term that has a negative connotation in the community.
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