**Stephen A. Smith Uncovers the Truth Behind Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark’s Injury**
Stephen A. Smith is no longer silent. While the WNBA is trying to act “fine,” Smith is blunt in pointing out that Caitlin Clark is more than just a good player—she is the “backbone” of the league right now.
When Clark suffered a hamstring injury and was sidelined for at least two weeks, it wasn’t just the Indiana Fever that was in trouble—the entire WNBA was losing its biggest draw.
Smith points out: skyrocketing attendance, private flights for players, and a surge in ticket and jersey sales—all of which began when Clark joined the league.
The numbers don’t lie: an average of more than 1.1 million viewers watched every game with Clark, but only 394,000 when she was absent—a steep decline.
But instead of acknowledging Clark’s accomplishments, some players were jealous, claiming that she was favored simply because she was “the new white girl.”
Smith responded: “It’s not about the color of her skin. It’s about the money, the audience, the attention that the WNBA has never seen.”
Angel Reese, one of the most vocal critics, became the focus of criticism when Smith said that she and others were trying to steal the spotlight without creating equivalent value.
Smith also attacked the WNBA’s board of directors for failing to protect their biggest star. Clark was repeatedly fouled and fouled without proper redress. “This is not an accident. This is negligence,” he said.
Though Clark was just a rookie, she propelled the Indiana Fever to the top of the ratings charts and was at the center of some of the most watched games in WNBA history. What she accomplished in a few months, the league had not accomplished in decades.
And now that Clark is gone, Stephen A. Smith asks a simple question: “What will we see happen to ratings and viewership? If they decline, let’s face it: she is the cash cow that the WNBA has failed to appreciate.”
