The WNBA X/Twitter admin must be a big Angel Reese fan.
Any number of reasons could explain why runaway WNBA Rookie of the Year and MVP candidate Caitlin Clark was scrubbed from The W’s recently released promotional graphic for their upcoming eight-team playoff tournament. Not one of them would be a good reason.
First of all, this posted was edited at a certain point late in the evening. They could’ve tweaked it or plugged in an updated graphic featuring Clark. Instead, they went with Kelsey Mitchell to represent Indiana. No shade to Mitchell, but this seems like such a blatant sign of disrespect toward Clark.
Would anyone other than diehard W fans watch the WNBA playoffs if Clark and her team weren’t in the field? Would attendance numbers and TV ratings project to continue obliterating previous records? The answer to both those questions is hell no.
I feel bad that Reese suffered an injury that cut her season short, but it was always ridiculous to suggest she was in the same galaxy as Clark re: the Rookie of the Year race. As if all the cheap shots — some of which Reese applauded in real time — blatant disrespect from veteran players, and her Team USA Olympic snub weren’t enough for Clark to deal with, now she can’t even get her likeness on WNBA playoff marketing material.
This is crazy: It costs more to attend Caitlin Clark’s first playoff game on Sunday than it cost to attend EVERY 2023 WNBA Finals game COMBINED. (via @TickPick)
What on earth 😭 pic.twitter.com/ngSjkGRrjT
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) September 20, 2024
"Rain drop. Drop top. I ball non stop stop." – Caitlin Clark pic.twitter.com/kTIDFkTzee
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) September 20, 2024
Caitlin Clark is the WNBA’s playoff marketing material. In women’s basketball, like Tiger Woods once was for men’s golf, she doesn’t merely move the needle. She is the needle. And yeah, her season started a little slow, but Clark has been a zero-doubt elite player especially over the second half of her rookie campaign. The Fever started 1-8 and have rallied to make it to the postseason. Yes, Fever forward Aliyah Boston and Mitchell deserve credit for the big roles they played in that turnaround. Make no mistake, though: As with everything in the general orbit of ladies hoops, Clark was the catalyst.
The fans know what I’m talking about. Just look at how they reacted to this latest Caitlin Clark snub/slight.
How is Caitlin Clark not on here.
She’s broken almost every record in the WNBA
Guessing because she’s a white straight woman with a boyfriend it doesn’t fit the black lesbian narrative.
Alright then
— The Tesla Bus Driver (@teslabusdriver) September 20, 2024
The fact that Clark isn’t on this graphic should prove to everyone that WNBA is jealous of her success.
— Alex M🐊🐊 (@Alexm3111) September 20, 2024
Everyday I learn a little more of why this league has been a complete failure since its inception.
— J. Mulholland (@MulhollandL0ver) September 20, 2024
Whoever is marketing for the WNBA needs to be fired. How do you leave out the biggest superstar who is saving this league from destruction? That being said, Kelsey Mitchell is still awesome.
— UngaTheGreat (@UngaTheGreat) September 20, 2024
Holy crap @WNBA – the face of your league for the next decade and your first global superstar isn't on this graphic of 8 players? Whoever approved this should be fired on the spot. #CaitlinClark
— SF Bay = Sports Royalty (@SFSportsAndTech) September 20, 2024
Attendance way up, arenas sold out and you leave off the player responsible for the success? Bravo. 👏 👏
— Tim Rhodes (@TRhodes96) September 20, 2024
Lol they don't even try & hide their disdain for Caitlin Clark.
— Justin Basch (@JustinJBasch) September 20, 2024
It’s pretty wild to think about how many records a player has to break in their rookie year to finally get the respect they deserve. I mean, @CaitlinClark22 had 200,000 more fans showing up in their home stadium than any other team—what are the odds that’s just a coincidence? It…
— Nick Gaillard (@nick__gaillard) September 21, 2024
Well done leaving off the most influencial player in WNBA history.
BRAVO FOLKS!!!!! pic.twitter.com/jFczAfjSPr
— California Wager (@CaliforniaWager) September 20, 2024
I guarantee if Chicago were in the playoff's Ms. Angel would be their cover girl!
If I'm Clark, I say screw the WNBA. Let her be on the Indiana Pacers roster!
— Tom L (@TomL90210) September 20, 2024
OK that last take is totally “cap” as the kids say. Just thought it was funny enough to feature.
Can’t wait to see the ratings and attendance for Fever playoff games versus everybody else’s. I’ll bet that, despite the Fever playing at 3 p.m. ET tomorrow, on an NFL Sunday, their draw will still dwarf the rest of the WNBA.
And that alone tells you all you need to know about how stupid it is that the W admin left Clark off that playoff graphic.
