The WNBA has been rocked by the sudden departure of its biggest star, Caitlin Clark, who has left for Europe amid frustrations over the league’s inability to protect her on the court. Clark, hailed as the future of women’s basketball, brought unprecedented viewership and ticket sales to the WNBA. However, her time in the league was marred by physical abuse on the court, which the league failed to address.
In her short time in the WNBA, Clark faced a staggering 177% increase in flagrant fouls compared to any other player, with over 80% of these incidents coming from a single team—the Chicago Sky. From elbows to the ribs to an infamous eye jab that left her temporarily blinded, Clark was subjected to brutal play game after game. Yet, despite her pleas for help, officials consistently turned a blind eye.
This lack of protection took a serious toll on Clark, both physically and mentally, ultimately leading her to make the difficult decision to leave the league. The WNBA’s failure to protect her is not just a personal loss but a colossal failure for the league as a whole. Clark wasn’t just a player—she was a phenomenon, driving record-breaking viewership and ticket sales. She helped the WNBA surpass the 1 million viewer mark for 22 of the 26 most-watched games, while ticket sales skyrocketed by 16% in 2023 and were projected to grow by 93% in 2024.
Without her, the WNBA is left in a precarious position. They have lost the one player who brought mainstream attention and inspired a new generation of young girls to dream of playing professional basketball. Now, the league faces an uncertain future, having let its brightest star slip away due to negligence and poor officiating.
As Clark heads overseas to continue her career, the WNBA must reflect on how they failed her—and whether they can recover from this massive blunder.
