Thein Candescent

The WNBA has completely mismanaged its biggest star in Caitlin Clark and it’s sad to see. Caitlin Clark didn’t do it alone and there are a number of current and former players who helped pave and maintain the way, but Caitlin Clark has been the primary catalyst for the WNBA’s new media rights deal, new CBA, having to move games to bigger arenas, getting private chartered flights and so much more. Yet when she is targeted in ways on the court that aren’t about basketball, it’s brushed aside as “physicality” or “just the way we play in the W”. No. What Alyssa Thomas did to Caitlin Clark was not about basketball. What Alyssa Thomas did to Angel Reese was not about basketball. It was a cheap shot. It was dirty. It was done on purpose. And it’s hurting the WNBA as a whole. What’s also sad is that because of the mismanagement of Caitlin Clark by the WNBA as a whole, the fact that HISTORICALLY INCREDIBLE BASKETBALL IS BEING PLAYED in the WNBA and it’s not being talked about enough. Marina Mabrey tied the WNBA record for most points in a game with 53 points, 6 Rebs, 2 assists and tied the WNBA record by hitting NINE 3’s for the Toronto Tempo 🤯 Rookie Olivia Miles broke Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers’ WNBA record for fastest to score 300 points and have 100 assists. Clark and Bueckers did it in 19 games, so Miles did it in 18. Olivia Miles has also lead the Minnesota Lynx, without star player Napheessa Collier, to the best record in the league and #1 in every major offensive statistic. Angel Reese just became the fastest player to get 1k rebounds. There is so much greatness happening in the WNBA, and it’s being ignored because people don’t want to celebrate it when the league won’t even protect its own players from unnecessary targeted behavior. Some people don’t want to celebrate the WNBA when the league won’t protect its most marketable player that is the driving force behind its increased awareness. But I will say the quiet part out loud. The facts today still show that far too many people are making things in the WNBA about race or sexuality and not the results. Drawing a line in the sand and defending any player’s dirty play just because of the color of their skin is wrong. We shouldn’t be denying the truth of what we see and situating or views of the truth along color lines. Caitlin Clark and every WNBA player wants to compete at the highest level. They are tough and the best female basketball players in the World. They don’t want to be involved in identity politics or race wars. They just want to play basketball. Right & wrong has no color. Alyssa Thomas was wrong for what she did. Caitlin Clark is a phenom, the WNBA has been wrong at so many turns with how they have handled her and the WNBA needs to improve its officiating. Olivia Miles was the right pick for Minnesota and is the runaway Rookie of the Year right now. Marina Mabrey was the right move for the Toronto Tempo. Angel Reese was the right move for the Atlanta Dream. Don’t pick sides based on the color of a player’s skin or their sexuality. Let’s just talk basketball. What Alyssa Thomas did wasn’t about basketball, she is rightfully getting crushed for it and got suspended. But everything doesn’t have to be a race war. It shouldn’t be. Via @OuttaPocketRG3

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