I used to be an avid viewer of the WNBA, and I was genuinely looking forward to the start of the season. Everything changed last year when rumors began circulating that the Connecticut Sun franchise might be relocating out of the state.
As the managing editor of Finding Connecticut, I was profoundly disappointed when the league ultimately approved a sale to a family based in Houston. Seeing the franchise sold away rather than kept local was a massive blow to the regional fan base.
Knowing that this current sequence of games marks the final year the team will ever play at Mohegan Sun Arena makes tuning in incredibly difficult. Hearing commentators and promotional materials refer to this farewell season as the “Sunset Season” only adds to that frustration.
My frustration with the current state of the league deepened last night while scrolling through social media. I repeatedly saw images of former Connecticut star Alyssa Thomas making contact with Caitlin Clark’s throat while Clark was on the floor trying to secure a loose ball.
According to the comments and initial game reports, game officials completely missed the play and called no foul on the floor. It is deeply concerning that an athlete can be struck in the throat while down without drawing an immediate whistle from the referees.
League officials addressed the incident today, with ESPN reporting that Thomas has been retroactively assessed a Flagrant 2 foul and a one-game suspension. While the league took corrective action after the fact, the entire situation highlights a broader problem with how certain players treat Clark.
A handful of individuals in the league treat Clark with an intentional hostility that is painful to watch. These competitors clearly do not support her simply because she does not fit their mold, yet Clark remarkably continues to take the physical punishment without reacting.
If I were in her position, I would seriously consider walking away from the WNBA and never returning. Thanks to her extensive portfolio of corporate endorsement deals, she does not need the league for financial security.
I used to thoroughly enjoy watching Thomas when she wore a Connecticut uniform, and I believe she is capable of being a better professional. There is a clear distinction between playing with competitive aggression and striking an opponent in the throat while they are already down.
The WNBA leadership needs to step up and demand better behavior from its athletes because young girls look up to these players as role models. Anyone who exhibits that level of targeted physical aggression toward another competitor deserves a season-long suspension.
The reality is that the league secured its massive new television broadcast contracts primarily because of the immense public interest surrounding Clark. Prior to her arrival a few years ago, television ratings were a fraction of what they are today.
The players in the league should be thanking Clark for the unprecedented growth she brought to their sport. Her presence single-handedly elevated viewership metrics, which directly paved the way for larger broadcast revenues and increased player compensation.
It’s worth asking when this cycle will finally end. The WNBA leadership must decide when it will consistently hold Clark’s aggressors accountable, just as the rest of the league needs to recognize that she is not an enemy, but simply a fellow competitor there to play basketball.
Until the WNBA gets its act together. I’m done.
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