SUMMARY (ENGLISH TRANSLATION)
Caitlin Clark, the WNBA’s top star, has dramatically increased interest in the league since being selected first overall in the 2024 draft, breaking numerous records and driving viewership to new heights. She is the league’s financial engine, significantly boosting team valuations. When Clark was sidelined due to injury, TV ratings and ticket sales plummeted, underscoring her immense influence.
However, the WNBA has been criticized for failing to protect Clark from increasingly aggressive and dangerous play. In the 2025 season, she has repeatedly faced rough fouls, most notably during a clash with Marina Mabrey on June 17, 2025. Despite this, the league imposed only mild penalties, with no suspensions, angering many fans.
Additionally, the WNBA is accused of not fully leveraging Clark’s star power to grow the league, instead focusing on political narratives or “identity politics,” leaving many fans feeling that Clark is isolated or underappreciated. For example, WNBA leadership often lumps Clark’s name together with other rookies, even though she alone accounts for 80% of the league’s top viewership figures.
Financially, the WNBA remains unstable, reporting a $40 million loss in 2024 despite a $200 million media deal. The league heavily relies on financial support from the NBA, which contributes roughly $15-20 million annually to keep it afloat.
Amid this situation, NBA legend Larry Bird—who himself once faced skepticism as an outsider entering the NBA—has reportedly stepped in to support Clark. Bird is said to be willing to help Clark establish her own WNBA team, giving her greater control over her environment and personal brand. This move is seen as a direct challenge to the WNBA’s current business model.
Bird believes the WNBA is missing a historic opportunity by not building the league around Clark, who could help make it financially independent rather than perpetually dependent on the NBA. Bird’s proposal not only aims to help Clark but might also attract NBA investors who are tired of subsidizing the WNBA without sufficient returns.
Clark is reportedly considering her options. If the WNBA doesn’t change, she might look overseas, where players can earn $1-3 million per season, compared to her current $78,000 WNBA salary—even though her commercial value has surpassed $11 million through endorsements.
In short, the WNBA is at a critical crossroads: either leverage Caitlin Clark’s star power to grow and sustain the league or risk losing its brightest star—the one athlete capable of transforming the WNBA into a true rival to the NBA.
