When Napheesa Collier stepped onto ESPN’s First Take this week, she probably didn’t expect to ignite a wildfire. But when the Minnesota Lynx star and WNBA Players Association Vice President criticized the Indiana Fever’s unprecedented national TV exposure—highlighting that the Fever will have 41 of 44 games broadcast nationwide—it didn’t just spark a sports debate. It blew the lid off an already simmering locker room divide within the WNBA.
“It’s just not fair,” Collier said, referring to Caitlin Clark and the Fever’s dominance of the TV schedule. But while her remarks seemed to call for fairness and balance, fans and analysts alike weren’t buying it. The backlash was swift and intense. The underlying message of her critique? That Clark is being unfairly elevated above her peers.
But let’s get real. This isn’t about fairness. It’s about visibility, attention, and control.
Since entering the league, Caitlin Clark hasn’t just been a player—she’s been a force of nature. With historic viewership numbers and sold-out arenas, she has injected life into a league long fighting for mainstream recognition. Of the 20 most-watched WNBA games last season, 18 featured the Indiana Fever. And the remaining two? One was the Finals. The other aired right before a Fever matchup.
Networks aren’t airing Clark’s games because of favoritism—they’re doing it because you, the fans, are watching. ESPN, CBS, ABC, and NBA TV are clamoring to get her on air because she delivers what no one else in the league currently can: eyeballs, buzz, and revenue.
Stephen A. Smith clapped back at Collier’s remarks on First Take, drawing a sharp comparison to how the NBA once centered its entire marketing strategy around a young Michael Jordan—even before he won a single ring. “Popularity drives everything,” Smith said. “That’s the business.”
Collier’s most controversial claim was that other teams should get more TV time “without taking it away from the Fever.” But that’s not how national broadcast slots work. Networks only have so much real estate. For another team to get more air time, someone has to lose it.
And here’s the kicker: the WNBA itself doesn’t decide who gets broadcast. The networks do.
Her comments, while possibly well-meaning, struck many as tone-deaf—especially coming from the Vice President of the Players Association, whose role is to advocate for everyone’s economic gain. Because like it or not, Caitlin Clark’s spotlight brings a rising tide that lifts all boats. Bigger TV deals, more sponsors, higher ticket sales, and eventually—bigger paychecks.
Collier’s remarks also exposed a deeper undercurrent in the WNBA: tension between the old guard and the new phenom. Before Clark, the league had a quiet hierarchy, with seasoned stars controlling the narrative. But with Clark’s arrival, the hierarchy has shattered. The spotlight that once belonged to the vets is now firmly on Indiana’s new golden girl.
Some stars, like Cheryl Swoopes, have publicly claimed that “nobody wants to play in Indiana.” But that narrative was obliterated the moment Sophie Cunningham, known as one of the league’s toughest enforcers, joyfully joined the Fever, stating her only thought was, “Oh heck yeah—we’re about to win a championship.”
“I’m fierce, I’m sassy, and I stick up for my teammates,” Cunningham said, vowing to protect Clark from the kind of cheap shots and hard fouls that plagued her rookie year. Last season, Clark often played without backup. This year, she has muscle.
And it’s not just Cunningham. The Fever’s roster is now packed with veteran leadership, including former Aces guard Sydney Colson, who left a championship team to join Clark’s squad. Her reason? She wanted in on something special.
“This team goes where Caitlin goes,” Colson said bluntly. “And I’m here to help guide her.”
With seasoned leadership like Colson and the dominance of Aaliyah Boston in the paint, the Fever have become the most intriguing team in the league—not just because of Clark, but because of the culture shift surrounding her.
The result? An unprecedented WNBA media explosion.
The ripple effect of Clark’s arrival is staggering. Six WNBA teams—including Atlanta, Chicago, Connecticut, Dallas, Las Vegas, and Washington—have moved their Fever matchups to NBA arenas just to accommodate demand. That’s not hype. That’s economic transformation.
The Connecticut Sun, who don’t even have an NBA arena nearby, are moving a game to Boston’s TD Garden—in a different state—just to cash in.
One ESPN analyst dubbed her the “walking GDP boost.” It’s no exaggeration. WNBA attendance jumped 48% last year—and much of that was thanks to Clark. Entire franchises are rebuilding their schedules around her appearances.
The Fever, once an afterthought in the standings, now dominate every TV schedule, headline, and debate.
The attention hasn’t been without controversy. While Clark’s teammates and coaches praise her growth, power, and off-season strength transformation, others have attempted to diminish her rise. Critics argue she’s “overhyped” or getting “preferential treatment.”
But the numbers don’t lie. She’s selling out arenas. She’s elevating ratings. She’s making the WNBA profitable.
And she’s just getting started.
Whether fans love her or loathe her, one thing is undeniable: Caitlin Clark is reshaping the WNBA in real time. As the league fights for growth, visibility, and financial sustainability, she may be its most powerful weapon.
