The spotlight on the heralded Indiana Fever rookie was addressed by two prominent guests on NBC Sports Bay Area’s “Dubs Talk” podcast a few days before Caitlin Clark was dropped by a hip-check charge that was later upgraded to flagrant, vaulting the WNBA to the top of the national sports discourse.
The challenges that Clark faced were met with discerning and supportive responses from Golden State Valkyries president Jess Smith and general manager Ohemaa Nyanin, who were both observing from a distance. Nyanin addressed the core issue.
“In every sport there are athletes that come in really young and either excel or don’t excel, based off their experiences,” she said. “And the significant increase in the number of individuals who are watching our sport, which we have dedicated a significant amount of time and effort to… “To all the naysayers out there: “Leave her alone.”
Nyanin and Smith are aware that the Clark Hype is increasing ticket sales and viewership, and they are committed to the WNBA’s growth. Clark is a distinctively welcome gift to a league that is still in the process of establishing its place within the national sports fandom, as there are “fans” who are acquainted with her but are unable to identify her team or any of her teammates.
There is no indication that Clark will be granted the relative tranquility of being totally engrossed in the game, as we are currently living in a time of gratuitous and loud hatred, which is often directed at competitors and is always present on social media.
As Chicago Sky novice Angel Reese can attest, newcomers in all sports are subjected to hazing, whether from teammates or opponents. Stephen Curry’s youthful experiences. The greater the hype, the harsher the hazing. Hazers, like haters, relish in conveying harsh messages – and Clark is among the latest potential stars to receive frequent “welcome to the W” greetings. Clark, however, rapidly has become a social experiment. And that adds broader dimension to her challenges.
Though the stressors on Clark do not rank with those Jackie Robinson endured in 1947, there are some similarities. She is, like Jackie, the subject of intense focus while performing before the most eyes ever set upon the league. She is, like Jackie, trying to present her best self while knowing some people will celebrate every stumble, and a few contemporaries will cast shade.
And, unfortunately but unsurprisingly, Clark also contends with a very real racial component that, implied or overt, exhibits the most elemental failing of American society.
Clark, who is white, is not the greatest player in the predominately Black WNBA. Not even close. She leads all newcomers in scoring (15.6 points per game), but her efficiency ranks near the bottom. Her 6.4 assists per game ranks fourth, but her turnover rate is the highest in the league. There is enough skill to imply stardom is achievable, but Clark is firmly in the developmental phase.
Her impact, however, already is of tremendous value to the WNBA. She is the shiny new toy that was bestowed star status on Day 1. As the W’s biggest individual attraction for the coveted casual-fan demographic, she is first among the reasons every player in the league shortly can expect a higher standard of living.
“From a revenue perspective,” Smith said, “you’re seeing the endorsement deals flow her way and then lean into the visibility, placing her next to other athletes of incredible caliber. She is still a novice. So, I also believe and hope that the narratives around her play are inclusive of the overall storyline. That she’s just starting started; she was literally playing college [in April].
“She comes into a brand new atmosphere, brand new coach, brand new everything in her life – and is expected to perform under the pressure that she has. It’s a lot. I think about her often and just hope that she’s taking care of herself and giving herself some grace. She’s growing into the league.”
Not yet a month into her professional career, Clark is a near-daily topic of discourse in all forms of sports media. It’s a lot to endure for a 22-year-old who grew up in Iowa and became a star at the University of Iowa. She wants to shoot long-range 3s, flip dimes and win games – but now typifies the growth spurt of an entire league.
That’s where we are. And Clark is struggling. The Fever launched the season with a brutal schedule and five consecutive losses. After Indiana (2-9) lost seven of its first eight, those covering the team have noted that the heat is taking a toll on the neophyte.
“Just let her do what she needs to do,” Nyanin said. “And knowing her, she puts enough pressure on herself that she doesn’t need everybody else too. I witnessed a postgame presser recently where she says, ‘Yeah, I’m not really on social media.’ And I thought to myself ‘Yes!’ ”
Boycotting social media can be beneficial for the soul. Many athletes have done so and found it liberating. It can be toxic; it has been linked to thousands of suicides and attempted suicides. But it’s only one portion of the equation that must be navigated to sustain succeed in professional sports.
Internal pressure can be more hazardous. The WNBA is in its 28th season, and it is expanding. Clark’s arrival accelerated the development. Her televised début on May 14 set a league viewership record. She is money. Realizing this, as Clark undoubtedly does, brings its own pressure.
Yes, the WNBA has many stars, many of whom are greater than Clark. She occurs to be among at least four rookies with the goods to become franchise players. The spotlight on her is brighter and more incessant than that on the other three combined.
“I’ve thought about this a lot,” Nyanin said. “I’ve gone back and forth with myself, and I’ve gone back and forth with my ‘tribe,’ as I call them, and people that I can speak freely to and [say] this is what I think about this person’s ability to play on the court. I don’t know what equitable is based off how social media has taken opinion to be fact.
“And so, where I’m going to land is this: I think that as much as people have hyped Caitlin more, specifically, they should give her the grace to grow within this new venture that she’s in just as much as they would any other athlete.”
The W was magnificent before Caitlin Clark. With her, it can be more splendid and undoubtedly generate more revenue.
If Clark can remain healthy and get enough space to breathe and be all she can be, she has the potential to be among those who are a win for their team, while also raising the profile of the league and all of women’s sports.
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