The role and play of Caitlin Clark are one of the more polarizing sports topics at the moment. In general, discussion about the WNBA often lacks nuance, especially from those with a national platform. For context, some feel the need to defend the product out of Iowa due to what is being perceived as unfair treatment and outright attacks on the person and player.
However, this is far from a unique situation. Rookies often come into the professional ranks with a lot of attention and hype. Even in the case of the greatest prospects who ended up living up to their preceding reputation, in reality, those conversations were also held too soon and lacked the needed context. Anytime you move up a level of play, it's an adjustment period.
Charles Barkley and LeBron James are using their platforms to go after critics of the Indiana Fever rookie. These takes and stances are shortsighted. They disagree with some of the reception and coverage of Clark in the WNBA. According to them, it's unfair, and the TNT media personality, in particular, even went so far as to mention how ungrateful the other players are.
Of note, there is a rise in fan interest, revenue is going up, and travel accommodations are seeing a much-needed boost. But it's disingenuous to credit the rookie player. Income and interest in the league have been steadily on the rise. Furthermore, due to the increased popularity of more veteran players, the charter flight situation was already being looked into before this year.
Undoubtedly, her presence further sparked and hastened the pace at which some of these changes are happening. But instead of viewing her as a savior or someone to whom her teammates and opponents should feel indebted, this should all be seen as fantastic coincidental timing. In other words, all of the right circumstances are lining up together, and everyone is going to be able to benefit.
Resetting the Expectations for Caitlin Clark
It's understandable where some of the criticisms are coming from. But in this case, when former WNBA players and veteran members are discussing the young talent, it's entirely normal and inbounds. Regardless of who it is or what league, there is a sense among more established players anywhere that a rookie needs to earn the respect of his or her peers through in-game play.
As mentioned, raising the level of play is always difficult. Therefore, anointing someone to the Mount Rushmore of a given sport so soon is silly. It's unknown how people will react to the new professional environment. Also, it's important to mention the real risk of unforeseen injuries. There are a lot of things that can derail a young career.
Furthermore, the collective power of this year's rookie class is being overlooked by some who are too focused on the superstar guard. For one, Angel Reese has the needed personality and is putting in the work both on and off the court; she too could one day position herself to be the "face of the league." Moreover, she's a frontcourt player, so making the pro leap tends to be easier for those positions.
Finally, someone like Cameron Brink also came in with star power and could see an Anthony Davis-like career trajectory. She needs to continue to build off her talent and skill set, but the potential is there. This is only mentioning two other rookies. This also excludes even more first-year talent and others who have been in the league a little longer.
In a vacuum, you could justify some of the sentiments of James and Barkley. It would be nice if players could have room to grow and develop without being overanalyzed. However, this is far from reality in today's social media age. If Caitlin Clark is going to be considered the consensus best player in the WNBA and someone who carries the leap to new heights, she's going to have to first earn it on the court.
About the Author
Gabriel keeps his curiosity on the pulse of the sports world. Agree or disagree you can reach out to him on Twitter/X @BigTenGabriel, or send an email (gstesparza@gmail.com). He will respond! He's a fan of sports and competition in all forms. His past work includes content on various sites covering college football, college basketball, UFC, boxing, soccer, MLB, and the NFL.