Bullies Throw TANTRUM Fit As WNBA Rating CRASH & BURN After Caitlin Clark Elimination | THIS IS BAD!

Summary

The script discusses Caitlyn Clark's major impact on the WNBA, transforming from a rookie into the league's biggest star. Her influence has driven viewership, merchandise sales, and fan engagement to new heights. However, it also raises concerns about the WNBA's reliance on her, with plummeting ratings and attendance once her team was eliminated. The league is criticized for failing to market other players and depending too much on one star. The conversation touches on marketing challenges, financial struggles, and the future of women's basketball without Clark at the center.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Caitlyn Clark is a standout player in the WNBA, drawing significant attention and viewership.
• 📉 The WNBA experienced a sharp decline in viewership when Caitlyn Clark was not playing, indicating her impact on the league's popularity.
• 🏆 Caitlyn Clark had an impressive rookie season, leading in multiple statistical categories and earning her the unanimous Rookie of the Year title.
• 📈 Her presence significantly boosted the Indiana Fever's performance, turning them into playoff contenders.
• 📺 The league's TV ratings and merchandise sales saw a notable increase due to Caitlyn Clark's influence.
• 🤔 There are concerns that the WNBA may be overly reliant on Caitlyn Clark for its success and viewership.
• 🏀 Caitlyn Clark's potential suspension due to technical fouls has raised questions about fairness and the league's treatment of star players.
• 👟 Sponsors like Nike have been criticized for not capitalizing on Caitlyn Clark's popularity to promote women's basketball.
• 📉 The absence of Caitlyn Clark in the playoffs led to a significant drop in audience numbers, highlighting the league's challenges.
• 💡 There's a call for the WNBA to improve its marketing strategies, develop more stars, and create engaging narratives to maintain interest beyond individual players.

Q & A

Who is Caitlyn Clark and why is she described as 'box office' in the script?

Caitlyn Clark is a rookie player in the WNBA who made a significant impact in her debut season. She is described as 'box office' because of her ability to attract large audiences, generate high ratings, and elevate her team, the Indiana Fever, to playoff contention.

How did Caitlyn Clark perform in her rookie season in the WNBA?

Caitlyn Clark led all rookies in scoring, field goals made, three-point field goals made, assists, steals, and minutes played. She also led the league in assists and three-point shots made, and finished fourth in MVP voting.

What challenges did Caitlyn Clark face off the court during her WNBA season?

Caitlyn Clark had to deal with a lot of media attention, criticism, and comparisons to players from the 'Old Guard' of women's basketball. There were also external pressures related to her popularity and expectations, as well as incidents like an eye poke by another player that caused controversy.

How has Caitlyn Clark impacted the WNBA's popularity and viewership?

Clark significantly boosted the WNBA’s viewership, especially during her games. Her first playoff game drew 1.84 million viewers, the highest for a WNBA playoff game since 2000. However, viewership plummeted after her team was eliminated from the playoffs.

What concerns have been raised about the WNBA's reliance on Caitlyn Clark's star power?

The script raises concerns that the WNBA has become overly reliant on Caitlyn Clark to drive viewership and attendance. Without her in the playoffs, the league is experiencing declining ratings and struggling to maintain fan interest, indicating a lack of depth in marketing other players.

Why are the ratings and attendance declining after Caitlyn Clark's elimination from the playoffs?

The WNBA saw a dramatic drop in viewership and attendance after Clark's elimination because a significant portion of the new fanbase was attracted specifically by her performances. Without her, many fans lost interest, leading to empty arenas and low ratings.

How does the script compare Caitlyn Clark to past WNBA players?

While acknowledging the accomplishments of past WNBA greats like Lisa Leslie, Diana Taurasi, and Maya Moore, the script emphasizes that Caitlyn Clark's impact does not diminish their contributions. Instead, Clark is seen as a new symbol of women’s basketball who has brought unprecedented attention to the league.

What criticisms have been directed toward the WNBA's marketing strategy concerning Caitlyn Clark?

The script criticizes the WNBA for failing to capitalize on Caitlyn Clark's star power in its marketing efforts. Despite her popularity, the league did not create any major marketing campaigns or ads featuring her, which could have helped sustain interest in the league.

What financial challenges is the WNBA facing, according to the script?

The WNBA is heavily reliant on financial support from the NBA, which provides $200 million annually. In comparison, the NBA generates over $7 billion from its TV contracts. The WNBA's financial struggles are exacerbated by declining viewership and attendance after Clark's elimination.

What solutions are proposed to revitalize the WNBA beyond Caitlyn Clark's popularity?

The script suggests that the WNBA should invest in marketing other players, develop compelling team rivalries, and create storylines that keep fans engaged even when star players like Caitlyn Clark are not on the court. Additionally, it proposes exploring new revenue streams such as merchandising and brand partnerships.

Outlines

00:00

🎯 Caitlyn Clark's Influence and WNBA Ratings

This paragraph focuses on Caitlyn Clark's substantial impact on the WNBA, her leadership, and the massive decline in ratings without her. Clark is used as a benchmark for dealing with external pressures in basketball. Her rookie year accomplishments, including leading in several key categories, are highlighted. Despite her success, the league's challenges in keeping audience interest without Clark are underscored.

05:02

📉 WNBA Viewership and Caitlyn Clark's Star Power

This paragraph discusses the broader impact of Caitlyn Clark on the WNBA and the diminishing viewership as the league competes with the NFL. It suggests that while the WNBA saw record-high viewership, much of it was due to Clark’s influence. The narrative contrasts the past dominance of players like Lisa Leslie and Cheryl Swoops with Clark’s current popularity, emphasizing that without Clark, WNBA viewership may return to core fans, raising concerns about sustainability.

10:02

📺 Caitlyn Clark's Playoff Impact and Future Concerns for WNBA

The focus is on the dramatic rise in viewership during Caitlyn Clark's first playoff game and concerns about the league's future without her. The WNBA set a viewership record for the highest-rated playoff game since 2000, primarily due to Clark’s presence. However, the paragraph expresses concern over how the WNBA will maintain fan interest now that Clark is eliminated from the playoffs and highlights the league's over-reliance on her star power.

15:03

🚨 WNBA’s Over-Reliance on Caitlyn Clark and Future Strategy

This paragraph critiques the WNBA's heavy dependence on Caitlyn Clark and outlines the challenges faced by the league without her. It argues that the league should have leveraged her popularity to promote other players and develop storylines to retain audience interest. The lack of marketing strategy and financial hurdles are pointed out, with a call for more innovation in promoting the WNBA's athletes and exploring new revenue streams.

Keywords

💡Caitlyn Clark

Caitlyn Clark is a professional basketball player who has made significant impacts in the WNBA, as highlighted in the script. She is described as a 'box office' draw, meaning her presence significantly increases viewership and interest in the games. Her performance and popularity are central to the video's narrative, illustrating the impact of a single player on the league's success.

💡WNBA

The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) is the professional basketball league where Caitlyn Clark plays. The script discusses the challenges the WNBA faces in viewership and attendance, suggesting a reliance on star players like Clark to draw audiences. The term is integral to understanding the context of the video, which revolves around the league's performance and marketing strategies.

💡Box Office

In the context of the video, 'box office' refers to the ability to attract large audiences and generate significant interest. Caitlyn Clark is described as 'box office' due to her popularity and the spike in viewership and attendance her games command. This term is used to emphasize the economic impact of star players on the league.

💡Technical Foul

A technical foul is a penalty in basketball for unsportsmanlike conduct or rule violations that are not directly related to game play. The script mentions Caitlyn Clark accumulating technical fouls, which could lead to suspension. This adds tension to the narrative and raises questions about fairness and the treatment of star players.

💡Rookie of the Year

This term refers to the award given to the most outstanding first-year player in a league. Caitlyn Clark is noted as a unanimous rookie of the year, indicating her exceptional performance in her debut season. The term is used in the script to highlight her immediate impact and the high expectations set for her future career.

💡Viewership

Viewership refers to the number of people watching a particular broadcast or event. The script discusses a dramatic drop in WNBA viewership when Caitlyn Clark is not playing, indicating her importance to the league's audience engagement. This term is crucial for understanding the business side of the sport and the influence of star power.

💡Attendance

Attendance measures the number of people present at a live event. The script notes a significant decrease in attendance at WNBA games without Caitlyn Clark, suggesting that her presence is a major draw for fans. This term is used to illustrate the direct correlation between star players and fan interest.

💡Suspension

A suspension is a temporary ban from participating in games, often due to rule violations. The script raises the possibility of Caitlyn Clark facing suspension, which would be a significant event for the league and its fans. The term is used to create suspense and discuss the potential consequences of league rules on player participation.

💡Marketing

Marketing in the context of the video refers to the strategies used by the WNBA to promote its games and players. The script criticizes the league's lack of marketing featuring Caitlyn Clark, suggesting missed opportunities to capitalize on her popularity. This term is important for discussing the league's approach to growing its audience and revenue.

💡Rivalries

Rivalries in sports refer to intense competitions or animosities between teams or players. The script suggests that the WNBA should foster exciting rivalries to keep fans engaged even when star players like Caitlyn Clark are not involved. This term is used to discuss ways the league can maintain interest and excitement among its audience.

Highlights

Caitlyn Clark's impact on the WNBA has been compared to box office attraction, creating substantial buzz around women's basketball.

Clark led the Indiana Fever from obscurity to playoff contention, finishing as the rookie leader in multiple categories including scoring, assists, steals, and minutes played.

Clark's first playoff game drew 1.84 million viewers, the highest since the 2000 WNBA Finals, highlighting her influence on viewership.

Despite her success, the WNBA's reliance on Clark is a potential vulnerability, as viewership dropped significantly when she was not on the court.

Caitlyn Clark was unanimous Rookie of the Year and made WNBA First Team in her debut season, showcasing her exceptional talent.

There are concerns that the WNBA may be over-reliant on Clark to drive viewership and engagement, with empty arenas and declining TV ratings when she’s not playing.

Clark's ability to bring in a new fan base is compared to Steph Curry's influence in the NBA, marking a transformative moment for women’s basketball.

The WNBA's marketing strategy has come under scrutiny for failing to capitalize on Clark's star power, missing opportunities to promote her and other athletes effectively.

Critics argue the WNBA has fumbled by not leveraging Clark’s fame to uplift the league as a whole, which has led to disappointing playoff attendance and viewership.

Without Clark, the WNBA faces a harsh reality check, with empty arenas and substantial financial challenges that could impact the league’s future.

The NBA provides $200 million annually to support the WNBA, but the disparity in revenue between the two leagues is enormous, with the NBA generating over $7 billion from TV contracts alone.

Clark's rookie season not only elevated her team but also boosted local economies, like Indianapolis, where the Fever became playoff contenders thanks to her.

Clark’s unique ability to attract casual fans who never watched women's basketball before has made her a pivotal figure in the sport's future.

The potential suspension of Clark due to technical fouls raises concerns, as she’s seen as a key figure driving the WNBA’s popularity, with some arguing she is unfairly targeted by referees.

The absence of marketing campaigns featuring Clark and the WNBA’s focus on identity politics over star promotion has been criticized as a missed opportunity to grow the league’s fanbase.

Transcripts

Caitlyn Clark is box office she's doing

this and instead of giving her credit

y'all tried to make it about oh y'all

poo poo in the Old Guard y'all never

talk about the Old Guard like this did

you catch the WNBA playoffs without

Caitlyn Clark chances are you didn't and

it seems like not many others did either

and they all stayed the core she allowed

her teammates to lead her in certain

moments and and calm her down in certain

moments while still playing the game and

being herself out there on the floor

while also dealing with a ton of BS and

noise off the court the audience numbers

plummeted from 1.8 million to a mere

161,000 that's not just a slight dip

it's a dramatic drop Caitlyn Clark can

be used as a unit of measurement from

here on out when it comes to noise

around the game of basketball we will be

able to in the future say well this

compares to what Caitlyn Clark had to

deal with because there was so much

noise and she dealt with it and she

handled it now we have to wonder is the

WNBA facing challenges without its

latest Star I love the point that you

made about Caitlyn Clark in terms of the

BS that she had to deal with off the

court we got to remember she's been box

office she was the main attraction and

there was so many storylines that's been

associated with her most recently the

whole thing with her Cheryl swoops even

though really wasn't her it was Cheryl

swoops and all this every time you

turned around there was something that

she had to deal with let's take a moment

to appreciate Clark she didn't just step

into the league she made a huge impact

the reason I bring that up and I love

that because as a rookie as a rookie

ladies and gentlemen put this in

perspective Caitlyn Clark finished the

regular season leading rookies in

scoring field goals made three-point

field goals made assist Steals and

minutes played and she led the league an

assist and three-point is made think

about that for a second in like Shannon

says ultimately you first team you one

of those people so we got and fourth in

the league and VP voting the Indiana

Fever A team that was almost off the

radar suddenly became contenders for the

playoffs all thanks to her they tried to

minimize her say well you giving her all

this credit what about the women that

came before her what the women came

before her what they did cannot be taken

away that ain't got nothing to do with

Caitlyn Clark but there was a lot of

people tried to make sure they keep

Caitlyn Clark in her place because what

you're doing if you give her all this

shine you minimize what they done you

can't minimize what my Mo or Candace

Parker or Lisa Leslie or Lauren Jackson

or d Diana terasi or Simone Augustus or

any of the other great players that

Caitlyn Clark what she's doing doesn't

minimize what they've done imagine

transforming from being overlooked to

becoming the key player in such a short

time but we should have been given her

the credit we saw the ratings we saw the

merchandise sales we saw the attendance

but y'all want to make it make about

something else oh what about the women

that laid the foundation what about this

what about it that ain't got nothing to

do with Caitlyn Clark however here's the

worrying part without Clark the league

is struggling with empty Arenas and

dismal TV ratings it's as if the thrill

has faded and the fans have vanished

Caitlyn Clark unanimous rookie of the

year but what's even more impressive

she's first team

WNBA first so the big question remains

is the WNBA relying too heavily on just

one player and what happens if she's no

longer around reflecting back on Caitlin

Clark's rookie season I have honestly

never seen a company fumble the bag so

hard like the WNBA fumbled Caitlyn Clark

stay tuned because we're about to

explore why this situation is vital for

the future of women's basketball the

effect that The Fever are having on the

economy in Indianapolis in the WNBA in

the World of Sports and frankly it's

amazing now you all know the backstory

Angel ree in college did all this and

all this mocking of course our girl

Caitlyn Clark you might be asking

yourself those numbers look great but

what does it mean for the league let me

break it down for you before Caitlyn

Clark showed up the Indiana Fever were

pretty much forgotten now they're a team

everyone is talking about I think she's

spectacular I think she's going to be

the biggest box office attraction in

women's basketball in short order um you

know I know it it sounds like I could be

a bit biased I had to pleasure as I've

told you on several occasions of doing

an interview with her and when I was

there with her on stage to do something

with her 10,000 people show up Clark

didn't just Elevate their game She Made

Them serious contenders almost overnight

this woman is special she is a marksman

she is the Steph Curry of women's

basketball and I understand the Cheryl

swoops of the world or anybody else

there's a lot of players that have been

excellent in women's basketball

throughout the best UNESCO is obviously

spectacular we various others as well I

remember the days of Cheryl swoops and

Cynthia Cooper and how big Lisa Leslie

and how big time they all were and I'm

not taking anything away but when you

consider the evolution of the game of

women's basketball but it's not just

about what happens on the court Clark's

impact reaches well beyond the game

itself really intrigued because there's

a league with players that feel like

they should be getting the attention now

they have Center Stage but the ratings

are going to go down how far though

that's the key we're witnessing record

high viewership for WNBA games and who's

at the center of it all exactly Caitlyn

Clark it's going to be before the

argument was the league is much more

than this one girl that came into the

league and we're we've established it

and it hey look at the numbers

everywhere else across women's

basketball it's not just Caitlyn Clark

it's all of us and then the moment the

ratings tank they're going to come back

and say see we were right all along it's

all the races that follow Caitlyn Clark

that were watching the product and now

they're gone and we're back with our die

hards and that's the ratings that you're

seeing actual w w fans Not WBA actual W

fans let me get it right that's going to

be the argument she's transformed from a

player into the symbol of women's

basketball but is that going to be a

headline when they dip when she's not

playing and now they have to go through

the the postseason they're going head

to-head with the NFL we pointed that out

yesterday which isn't smart think about

it when was the last time a WNBA player

created this much Buzz numbers are going

to be up here to year because Caitlyn

Clark wasn't in the WNBA last year so

ESPN is going to spend this as a

positive that their playoffs will be

much higher rated than they were a year

ago even the playoffs without Caitlyn

Clark yes but because they were so low

that really isn't telling you the whole

story Clark isn't just bringing in

hardcore basketball fans she's also

drawing in people who have never watched

a women's game before 28 years the

numbers were Stellar Caitlyn Clark drew

a whole new fan base into it and now the

question is because she has been

eliminated she and the Indiana Fever are

eliminated after losing two games to the

Connecticut Sun what is the rest of the

season going to look like ratings wise

for the WNBA are people still going to

care that is the question on everybody's

mind because when you look at the

numbers with Caitlyn Clark there her

first playoff game drawing

1.84 million viewers ridiculous numbers

the highest rated playoff game since

game two of the 2000 WNBA finals this

wasn't even just an opening round game

back in 2000 this was one of the finals

games so this clearly is showing how

much of an impact Caitlyn Clark is

having she's making the WNBA more

relevant than it's ever been however

this situation also raises some concerns

Clark has become such a major star in no

time that it feels like the whole league

is leaning on her but obviously it's

always important to give credit where

it's do and I think we all realize where

the credit needs to be given as far as

the success of this WNBA season Caitlyn

Clark came in and made such an impact on

how many people started to care about

the WNBA this was the highest viewed

season in the history of the League this

leads us to a key question is this

Reliance good for the WNBA you know the

saying don't put all your eggs in one

basket well it seems like the WNBA has

had to learn this lesson the hard way

with Caitlyn Clark out of the playoffs

the league is facing a reality check and

it has everyone wondering if they've

missed a golden chance believe me this

goes far beyond just losing a standout

player let's take a moment to discuss

some figures remember those crowded

Arenas during Caitlyn Clark's games well

that seems to be a thing of the past

nowadays playoff games are seeing hardly

any fans in the stands can you imagine

walking into a place that should be

filled with playoff energy only to find

it feels more like a ghost town that's

the current reality for the WNBA but it

gets even more troubling the WNBA isn't

just losing audience members MERS it's

also facing substantial Financial

challenges and we're not talking about

small amounts here the NBA provides $200

million annually to support the WNBA

while it generates over $7 billion from

its television contracts alone that's a

huge gap like comparing a small pond to

an enormous ocean now you might be

thinking surely they have a strategy to

fix this right hold tight because this

is where it gets really interesting the

wnba's marketing efforts or the lack of

them are leaving a lot of people puzzled

believe it or not they haven't produced

any ads featuring Caitlyn Clark it's as

if they have a treasure but chose to

keep it hidden away and it's not just

about Clark the League's overall

strategy for promoting its players is

under heavy scrutiny one analyst bluntly

remarked that without Caitlyn Clark the

WNBA is nothing but a polished turd ouch

that's not just harsh criticism it's a

significant wakeup call the league has

been riding on Clark's Fame but seems to

have overlooked the need for backup

plans so what does this all mean for the

future of women's basketball we're not

just talking about a disappointing

season this could be a turning point for

the entire league without Clark in the

playoffs the WNBA is losing viewers at

an alarming rate and in today's world

where attention is a precious commodity

that's a serious threat but here's the

twist it didn't have to turn out this

way the WNBA had a golden opportunity

with Clark they could have harnessed her

star power to uplift other players and

create engaging storylines that would

keep fans interested even when she

wasn't on the court instead they put all

their eggs in one basket and now they're

facing the consequences now you might be

asking so what's coming next for the

WNBA get ready because the solutions

might just catch you off guard we're not

just looking for a quick solution we

want a complete makeover that could

change the game for the league first up

is marketing the WNBA has done well by

riding the wave of Caitlyn Clark's Fame

but it's time to shine the light on

other athletes too picture a league

where every player has their own

compelling story and dedicated fans

we're aiming for rivalries that ignite

discussions even when the star players

aren't on the court every game should

feel like an event you can't miss now

let's talk about the athletes the WNBA

can't simply sit back and wait for the

next big star to come along they need to

actively Scout new Talent help them grow

and support the next wave of superstars

imagine a league where each team has a

player that leaves you thinking that was

incredible but here's the crucial part

none of this will work if the WNBA can't

keep its audience engaged they need to

create stories that go beyond just one

game or season this means building

strong team identities nurturing

exciting rivalries and giving fans

something to cheer for even when their

favorite player isn't at their best plus

let's not Overlook the financial side of

things the WNBA has to explore new ways

to make money they can't just rely on

ticket sales and TV deals what about

selling merchandise what about teaming

up with other brands there's a whole

world of possibilities waiting and it's

time for the the WNBA to dive in and

explore them let's sum this up we've

noticed that the WNBA heavily invested

in Caitlyn Clark and now they're facing

the consequences empty Arenas declining

viewership and a league that's

struggling to keep its head above water

but it's not over yet the WNBA needs to

make some bold moves they should develop

more stars Foster exciting rivalries and

ensure every game feels special they

can't simply wait for the next clerk to

emerge it's time to get Innovative with

marketing enhance the live experience

for fans and explore fresh revenue

streams but here's the big question can

the WNBA Thrive without leaning on a

single Superstar or is this the start of

a tough road ahead for women's

professional basketball what are your

thoughts share your ideas in the

comments we'd love to hear your

strategies for revitalizing the WNBA

during the first 2 minutes of the first

round playoff game of the Connecticut

Sun vers the Indiana Fever D Carrington

poked Caitlyn Clark in the eye Caitlyn

fell to the ground she was holding her

face the rest did not call a foul they

didn't call a flagrant foul the play

continued Caitlyn Clark's WNBA Journey

has been nothing short of eventful but

now she's facing a possible suspension D

is going up for the ball she misses and

then her hand bends down like this and

goes straight into Caitlyn's eye can you

believe it all because of something as

simple as tossing the ball Caitlyn Clark

is taking over this league and every

passing game that she does something

awesome it makes the decision to Leaf

her off the Olympic team that much

stupider it seems a bit ridiculous

doesn't it despite breaking records and

showing off her amazing skills on the

court it feels like the league is more

focused on calling technical fouls on

her than recognizing her Talent NBA I'm

talking players coaches and refs they're

all a bunch of Caitlyn Clark haters

they're all a bunch of jealous haters

yep they are just working themselves up

about kitlin Clark just to hate on her

Skyler Diggins is bumping her the their

girls are complaining on the bench

referees are getting into it now they're

all a bunch of haters the referees seem

eager to blow their whistles for any

reason

djon she's a spice Carrington poking

Caitlyn Clark in the eye regardless if

you believe the eye poke was intentional

or not what happened to journalists and

media well standing by their stories and

of course their opinions furthermore can

we stop trying to cancel people because

we disagree with their opinions whether

she's celebrating a great play showing

frustration or just playing her game

it's frustrating to see such a key

player in the sport treated like she's

constantly at risk of fing out all of

this conversation around Indiana Fever

fans it's all just misguided overh

hatred of Caitlyn Clark the WNBA really

needs to rethink how they're handling

this situation and pointing a finger at

those guys they're the

racist when really y'all are the racist

it just doesn't seem fair over an

Indiana the fever are grabbing headlines

with their record-breaking performances

largely thanks to Caitlyn Clark it's

been almost a decade since the fever

last made it to the playoffs which is no

small achievement considering only the

top teams get there each year and now in

her rookie season Clark has already

secured a playoff spot for them now

that's impressive the the people coming

up with excuses to hate Caitlyn Clark

and the new fan base that she brought

and and justifying again as we talked

about yesterday Nike won't even put out

a Caitlyn Clark commercial won't put out

a Caitlyn Clark shoe because Nike has

decided that they must bow to the Angry

Black feminist the black lives matter

movement the feminist movement overall

the the the whole uh in uh the whole

identity politics movement but just as

everyone's gearing up for the playoffs

there's trouble Brewing Caitlyn Clark is

teetering on the edge of a suspension

yes Caitlyn Clark is the biggest star in

sports but Nike in order to promote

equity and fairness and diversity and

inclusion you must spend all of your

money promoting Asia Wilson someone most

people don't know exist and don't care

about here's the deal despite an

incredible rookie season packed with

record-breaking moments she's facing a

potential suspension due to the WNBA

strict rules is it even possible to

cancel anyone anymore if a player racks

up seven technical fouls in a season

they have to sit out the next game and

guess what Caitlyn sitting at six that

means she's just one Tech away from

missing a game Carrington has spent the

past several months mocking and smearing

Clark the Los Angeles Times provided the

that context with the following headline

Caitlyn Clark suffers black eye was

caused by player who mocked and called

her

out well that seems pretty easy that

seems very easy but of course the normal

suspects take issue with this because

the normal suspects I don't know why we

ever give Sarah Spain any at all but we

do on this show and with the playoffs so

close the timing couldn't be worse fans

are on edge feeling like it's a

nail-biting season finale Caitlyn Clark

got you watching the league because it

wasn't just her you wanted to see who

eventually she was going to end up going

against you saw other folks trying to

get at her and trying to get at her team

and you saw fans and all of this other

stuff going on which we will get into

right she has you transfixed on the

entire league that's why I brought up

Michael Jordan the issue isn't just the

rule itself it's how Caitlyn Clark has

been treated by the refs all season when

you with Caitlyn Clark you find yourself

watching the league as well we're

talking about a rookie who's led her

team set records and brought a lot of

excitement to the league basketball has

really consumed my life for a year so I

feel like it'll be good for me to kind

of reflect back on everything that's

happened like I feel like I didn't even

have time to really reflect on my

college career cuz it ended so fast and

then I came here and was trying to give

everything I could to to this team and

it it was special it was there was a lot

of things that this group accomplished

that you know a lot of people probably

didn't think was possible yet she keeps

getting hit with penalties for small

things the seven technical foul rule is

supposed to keep things under control

but it feels like Clark is being

punished for simply showing passion on

the court as the most impactful women's

basketball player we've seen in a

generation and it took a combination of

things both on and off the court off the

court attendance viewership on the court

breaking the single season uh scoring

record or the all-time scoring record in

college but now you see her in the WNBA

and you can say the exact same thing

most impactful that we've seen in

women's basketball for those same two

reasons Arenas were upgraded viewership

through the roofs but then when it comes

to the basketball what she was able to

do was truly impressive she averaged 19

and8 for some context I won rookie of

the year I think I averaged 12 let the

girl celebrate what's really frustrating

is that most of her technicals aren't

from bad behavior deserving harsh

punishment they're mostly just reactions

like celebrating a big play or

questioning a call and honestly who

hasn't wanted to argue with a ref after

a bad call the operative word that comes

to my mind is gratitude there's an

incredible level of gratitude that

should be accorded to this young lady

with what she did for the sport that's

not to take anything away from anybody

else but I often AR when I've argued

with folks about this you think NBA

players shouldn't be thankful to Magic

Johnson