Feels like there’s a bigger superstar they could have chosen…
For the first time…well, since the WNBA was founded, it feels like the league is actually relevant and not just a niche sport that struggles to draw fans. And the main reason for that, of course, is Caitlin Clark.
Since the superstar entered the league, she’s unquestionably elevated the game and brought more eyes to women’s sports than any other female athlete… ever. Clark now plays for the WNBA’s Indiana Fever, and she continues to be a star at the pro level, though many will always remember her as an Iowa Hawkeye. The Fever are not only selling out games both at home and on the road, but they’re forcing many teams to move their games to bigger arenas when Clark and the Fever come to town because everybody wants to see her play.
How important is Clark to the league? Earlier this year, when she missed nearly a month due to an injury, WNBA viewership was down a staggering 55%. No other player has that kind of effect on the league’s viewership. Not even close.
Of course Clark’s biggest rival in the league is Angel Reese, who along with Clark was one of the biggest stars in college basketball during her time at LSU. Their rivalry has continued on to the WNBA where Reese plays for the Chicago Sky, but there’s not really any doubt that she’s a distant second behind Clark when it comes to star power.
That’s why it was so strange when it was announced yesterday that Reese would be the cover athlete for the WNBA 2k26.
Of course it’s not really a surprise to see Clark get snubbed. The WNBA recently voted her the 9th best guard in the league, which is just ludicrous based on her stats. But fans were baffled at why, when the goal is to sell video games (and let’s be honest, they’re probably not going to sell a ton), they wouldn’t choose the most popular player by far to grace the cover?
“I’ve never seen an organization intentionally try to fail like the WNBA”
“How is the rookie of the year and the most watched player not on the cover? What a joke of a league”
“It’s so obvious you’re forcing her as the face of the league when there’s much better players out there”
“You chose a player shooting 37% over the one who saved your league from extinction.”
“The WNBA finally gets their Michael Jordan and they put Sam Bowie on the cover. If you’re wondering who Sam Bowie is, yeah exactly. He was the big who couldn’t shoot and was drafted just before Jordan.”
“I will never understand this. You have a generational player in your league. And it’s not Angel Reese.”
“Caitlin Clark exists, yet the WNBA picks Angel Reese over her. This is precisely why they do so terribly.”
“I’ve never seen an organization blatantly ignore a once-in-a-lifetime player the way the WNBA does”
Pretty much sums it up. The WNBA has their best marketing opportunity in the history of their league, and they seem intent on absolutely blowing it.
