Caitlin Clark Is Winning the Game—But Losing the Locker Room?

Caitlin Clark isn’t just rewriting basketball history—she’s changing the conversation around it. From viral buzzer-beaters to shattering NCAA scoring records, Clark has become the face of a women’s sports revolution. But her rise hasn’t come without resistance. Inside the WNBA, her success has triggered tension, resentment, and a long-overdue reckoning with race, power, and recognition.

Veteran journalist Christine Brennan, in her newly released book On Her Game: Caitlin Clark and the Revolution in Women’s Sports, traces Clark’s explosive impact from her college days at Iowa to the heart of the WNBA. Brennan’s journey began in February 2023, watching a regular season game on her iPad. Clark hit a near-impossible three-pointer to stun Indiana. That moment, Brennan says, felt different—even after decades of covering Super Bowls, Olympics, and Tiger Woods.

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Soon, Clark was everywhere. Ratings for her NCAA games skyrocketed. Her 2023 Final Four matchup pulled nearly 19 million viewers—surpassing the men’s final. It was a cultural shift.

And when Clark moved to the WNBA just eight days after her final college game, the numbers followed. Viewership doubled. Attendance surged. Suddenly, casual fans were scouring streaming apps to catch Indiana Fever games. Prime time WNBA wasn’t a niche product anymore—it was mainstream.

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But while Clark captured America’s imagination, she didn’t win over everyone in the league.

Some veteran WNBA players and insiders didn’t appreciate how quickly—and overwhelmingly—the spotlight followed her. The league, made up of 74% Black athletes, had long been ignored by major media. Despite decades of elite play by Black stars like Maya Moore and Cheryl Swoopes, the recognition was never this loud. So why now? Why her?

It’s a tough question. Brennan doesn’t shy away from the racial component. Clark’s whiteness, charisma, and marketability undeniably played a role. But it’s also about timing and entertainment value. As Brennan puts it, “You don’t leave the room when she has the ball.” Clark’s game isn’t just good—it’s electric. Logo threes. No-look passes. She turns every possession into a moment.

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Still, the league was woefully unprepared for the wave she brought. Brennan reveals that WNBA leadership failed to hold sessions or briefings to help players navigate the sudden surge of media, scrutiny, and fan attention. As a result, resentment bubbled. Physical altercations on the court, cold shoulders off it, and the most controversial snub of all—Clark being left off the U.S. Olympic team.

That decision, Brennan reports, wasn’t just about roster balance. There was a clear undercurrent: certain powers within the basketball establishment didn’t want her there. Head coach Cheryl Reeve even publicly clashed with Clark supporters on social media before the selection. The move was historic—and not in a good way. Clark’s absence from the Olympics left fans confused, broadcasters disappointed, and TV ratings underwhelming.

The irony? Clark never asked for this. She’s handled the pressure with poise. She promotes her teammates, mentors younger players, and maintains a positive public image. Her friendship with fellow WNBA star Aliyah Boston is especially telling. Before every game, they trade affirmations: “You’re amazing.” “No, you are.” It’s not just branding—it’s real camaraderie.

But the friction continues. On multiple occasions, Clark has been targeted on the court with unnecessary roughness. When she missed five games due to injury, league ratings dropped by more than 50%. That stat alone speaks volumes.

The bigger picture? Clark isn’t the problem—she’s the catalyst. Her fame is forcing a long overdue conversation: What does success look like in women’s sports? Who gets celebrated, and why? And how can a league evolve without tearing itself apart?

The answers aren’t simple. But one thing is clear—Clark has forever changed the landscape. She’s brought global attention, big-money deals, and a new generation of fans. And while some may resent her rise, others are finally getting their own moment in the sun because of it.

As Brennan writes, “She’s not just moving the needle—she is the needle.”

The WNBA has a choice: fight the tide, or ride the wave she created.

Because love her or not, Caitlin Clark is here—and she’s not going anywhere.