It’s hard to believe that I keep getting asked if I’m disgruntled or jealous of the state of the WNBA. But Candace Parker—a legend of the league—just said what Caitlin Clark’s fans have been screaming all season: the truth that the older generation of WNBA players didn’t want to hear, but should have heard a long time ago. Because instead of welcoming the new season with a more positive and open mind for Caitlin, things have only gotten worse.
The jealousy is more obvious, the vitriol is deeper, and the double standards are… undeniable. Candace Parker did what few people dare to do—she laid it out in a straightforward, simple, yet compelling way. Her words stripped the debate bare and put it in its proper place. Because if this season has shown us anything, it’s that the more Caitlin Clark succeeds, the more the WNBA hurts itself. Let’s take a look at Candace’s words—they’re perhaps the most thoughtful and sobering responses to those who are hating on Caitlin and the new generation of WNBA players.
So why is Candace speaking out now? It’s simple: Caitlin Clark is not only the most popular player in America right now—far ahead of every female basketball star except LeBron and Steph—she’s also the single driving force behind the WNBA’s explosive growth. She’s an open secret. Every metric—from TV ratings to ticket sales to merchandise—points to one undeniable truth: Caitlin Clark is making waves like no other in the league’s history.
In the first few weeks of the season, she broke records: 1.3 million people watched the preseason, 2.7 million watched the season opener—the most in 25 years, and recently, a peak of 3.3 million for the Liberty game. But when Caitlin got injured, things changed quickly. Ticket prices plummeted—a 300% drop for the Fever vs. Sky game. While Fever fans stayed in the stands, the rest of the league fell behind. This wasn’t just a symptom. This was a wake-up call.
Caitlin was projected to bring in more than $1 billion for the WNBA this year. And if she stopped playing, all that momentum would be lost. Promises of new contracts, royalties, and negotiating leverage—all would evaporate if Caitlin were not around. Yet instead of seizing the opportunity, the league has continued to deny the obvious: Caitlin is the spark that ignited the current wave. Instead, the WNBA has been embroiled in non-basketball controversies that have diverted attention away from the court.
After just one game, the league opened an investigation into “hate speech”—baseless online rumors. Instead of celebrating a historic debut, the media has been dominated by controversial headlines. From there, absurd rumors spread that Indianapolis was unsafe for players, that Caitlin’s fans were dangerous. Meanwhile, the WNBA has remained silent in the face of real threats against Caitlin and her teammates—racist slurs, photos with sniper targets placed on them.
Even when Caitlin was simply holding an assistant coach’s baby, she was accused of “using children as PR props.” Every line has been crossed. But from the board? Still a baffling silence. Even Commissioner Kathy Engelbert’s lengthy Harvard Business Review article doesn’t mention Caitlin as a leader. She lumps her in with Angel Reese and Cameron Brink, even though everyone knows Caitlin’s games averaged 1.2 million viewers.
The truth is, there’s a segment of the WNBA that can’t accept Caitlin Clark as a center. Not because of her talent. But because of jealousy. And because of her race. Racist accusations are still being thrown around to explain her prominence, instead of acknowledging that Caitlin broke 62 WNBA records, made the All-Star team, and took a bottom-of-the-table team to the playoffs in her rookie year.
And the fact is: the attention she’s given to Caitlin doesn’t just elevate her, it elevates the entire league. People came for her, but they stayed for the league. This was a chance for other stars to get noticed. The legendary Lisa Leslie spoke up. And now, Candace Parker – one of the biggest icons of the WNBA – can’t stay silent either.
Candace asserted: “I don’t feel jealous at all. My job is to leave the league better when I leave. Just like Cheryl Miller did for me, I’ll do for Caitlin Clark.” The answer was simple, rational, and to the point – which should be the norm for the entire league.
She didn’t shy away from the topic of race, nor did she let her emotions cloud her judgment. She asked only one thing: “Keep it within the confines of basketball.”
