LOS ANGELES, CA – The WNBA, long striving for mainstream recognition and financial stability, finds itself at a pivotal juncture, largely propelled by the unprecedented arrival of rookie sensation Caitlin Clark. While the league celebrates record-breaking viewership and merchandise sales, a simmering tension among players has boiled over, prompting outspoken sports analyst Colin Cowherd to deliver a scathing critique aimed squarely at veteran WNBA athletes. Cowherd argues that some established players are failing to embrace the “golden goose” that is Clark, potentially jeopardizing the league’s hard-won progress.

The recent WNBA All-Star Game served as a flashpoint. Players collectively donned black t-shirts emblazoned with “Pay Us What You Owe Us,” a clear message to the league amidst ongoing collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations. While Cowherd expressed no issue with players advocating for higher compensation, he sharply criticized Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum for reportedly “making fun” of Clark rather than focusing on the unified message. This incident, for Cowherd, epitomized a deeper issue of perceived jealousy and resistance within the league.

The WNBA’s Pre-Clark Landscape: A Struggle for Survival

For over two decades, the WNBA operated largely as a passion project, often struggling for financial viability. Cowherd painted a bleak picture of the league’s past: players reportedly had to pay for water on low-cost airlines, enduring seasons in sparsely attended arenas, with merchandise sales so poor that fans struggled to find jerseys. Franchises frequently operated at a loss, and the league battled perceptions of being a “nonprofit.”

“These women were playing for clubs that were losing money year after year while enduring seasons in deserted arenas,” Cowherd lamented, underscoring the challenging environment that defined the WNBA for much of its history.

The “Clark Effect”: A Financial Revolution

Caitlin Clark’s entry into the WNBA has, by all accounts, ignited a financial revolution. Cowherd highlighted staggering statistics to illustrate her immediate and profound impact:

Merchandise Sales: A 500% increase in product sales across the league.
Attendance: A 40% increase in overall league attendance, with many cities now selling out games that previously drew only a few thousand spectators.
Franchise Profitability: Teams that were consistently losing money have suddenly turned a profit. The Indiana Fever, once a financial misstep, now boasts a waiting list for season tickets.
Endorsements: Clark herself earned an astounding $11 million from off-court endorsements in her rookie year alone, far eclipsing her WNBA salary.

“Everything changed overnight when Caitlyn Clark arrived,” Cowherd asserted, likening the transformation to a band moving from a “Motel 6 in a dubious area of town” to a “Four Seasons in the commercial district.” This dramatic shift includes private aircraft travel, improved lodgings, and the promise of higher compensation for all players.

Veteran Resistance and the All-Star Snub

Despite the undeniable financial boon Clark has brought, Cowherd expressed deep frustration with what he perceives as a lack of gratitude and active resistance from some veteran players. He pointed to the WNBA All-Star voting results as a glaring example. While fans overwhelmingly recognized Clark’s impact, ranking her as the best guard, her fellow players ranked her a surprising ninth place in the All-Star voting.

“The same players who benefited from her success ranked ninth the league’s top attraction,” Cowherd stated, emphasizing the “huge disparity between player recognition and crowd support.” He labeled this behavior as “pettiness” and a deliberate act of “working against their own interests.” Cowherd suggested that some veterans “don’t like the way it looks once they obtain the Golden Goose,” implying a discomfort with the new face of the league and the way success has arrived.

The Michael Jordan Parallel: A Blueprint for Superstardom

To underscore Clark’s transformative power and the challenges she faces, Cowherd drew a compelling parallel to Michael Jordan’s early career in the NBA. Both athletes, he argued, arrived as “flamboyant rookies” who abruptly altered their respective leagues. Jordan propelled the NBA into a global phenomenon, and Clark is doing the same for the WNBA.

Cowherd highlighted the physical abuse both players endured. Jordan faced the infamous “Jordan Rules” from the Detroit Pistons, designed to wear him down with forceful contact. Similarly, Clark has contended with “comparable targeting” and “hard fouls, needless contact, and blatant targeting” throughout her rookie season. Cowherd criticized officials for allowing much of this physical play against Clark to go “unchecked,” echoing how officials struggled to protect Jordan in his early years.

He suggested that just as the Chicago Bulls brought in Charles Oakley to protect Jordan, the Indiana Fever acquired Sophie Cunningham (a six-year-old black belt in Missouri’s history) to safeguard Clark. This strategic move, Cowherd noted, demonstrates a “wise business move” in recognizing and protecting a player who “changes everything.”

Embracing the Wave: The Future of the WNBA

Cowherd’s ultimate message to the WNBA and its players is one of acceptance and cooperation. He believes that Clark’s ongoing success is the “jet fuel” for the league’s future, directly impacting TV contracts, sponsorship funds, and the very pay raises players are demanding.

“The WNBA’s future hinges on accepting this change instead of rather than resisting it,” he declared. He predicted that the physical challenges Clark faces will only make her a better player, much like Jordan’s early struggles forged his legendary career.

Cowherd praised players like Aaliyah Boston, Sophie Cunningham, Kelsey Mitchell, and Lexi Hull for “embracing playing with her” rather than opposing Clark’s success. These astute players, he argued, “opted for cooperation over rivalry” and will benefit for years to come.

The analyst envisions a 2025 where sold-out stadiums are the norm, sponsorship agreements have real financial impact, young girls proudly wear WNBA jerseys, and television ratings compel networks to defend broadcasting rights. This vision, he contends, is attainable “if everyone is on board.”

“You might not have another chance like this one if you miss this one,” Cowherd warned, emphasizing the critical juncture the WNBA faces. The “heat and intensity” Clark brings will only make the league stronger, and her trajectory, he believes, will define the WNBA for the next 10 to 15 years. The choice, for veteran players, is clear: “Clark’s wave can either sweep by you or you can embrace it.”