Controversy swirls as WNBA season kicks off with record crowds

What you probably already know: Rivals Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese are at it again. The most anticipated WNBA season in the league’s 29-year history kicked off last weekend, and it did not disappoint. Clark’s Indiana Fever routed Reese’s Chicago Sky 93-58, but the real drama ensued midway through the third quarter, when Clark was called for a flagrant foul on Reese, and Reese had to be restrained from going after her. Social media immediately lit up, with most defending Clark. The WNBA, in fact, issued a statement after the game, saying it was looking into “alleged hateful fan comments” reportedly directed at Reese from Indiana fans.

The league has never garnered this kind of attention. The Sports Business Journal says WNBA games were at 89% capacity on opening weekend, with four clubs — the Fever; the Dallas Wings (with highly touted rookie Paige Bueckers); the Washington Mystics; and expansion franchise Golden State Valkyries all selling out. Attendance at opening weekend skyrocketed 36.7% from last season (though last year’s season began on a Tuesday). The league also set multiple attendance records last year. Even this year’s preseason games drew record numbers of fans.

Why? WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has said that Clark may be the most famous athlete in the United States. That’s no exaggeration. Even NBA superstar LeBron James shouted out Clark after her triple-double performance last weekend, and the internet “lost its mind.” Clark’s rivalry with Reese dates to their college days, when Reese’s LSU Tigers defeated Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes in the 2023 NCAA women’s championship game.

What it means: This is a pivotal moment for women’s professional basketball. Despite its soaring popularity, the WNBA is nowhere close to being profitable. Some estimates say the league lost $40 million last season, despite record attendance and TV viewership. It’s worth noting that most WNBA teams are funded by NBA clubs. There’s also the question of salaries: Only about two dozen WNBA players make six-figure incomes, and Clark’s base salary is only about $84,000 per year. Unrivaled, a sort of competitor to the WNBA — it’s a 3-on-3 women’s basketball league that just concluded its first season — paid its three dozen players an average salary of $200,000.

What happens now? The WNBA’s popularity will continue to grow. Clark sells out arenas across the league. But the Clark-Reese drama is already drawing backlash. Some commentators believe their rivalry detracts from the high-quality basketball the league is increasingly known for. But keep in mind that last season’s Fever-Sky game on CBS drew more than 2.25 million viewers, the most-watched WNBA game in 23 years.