Fans have slammed WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert as "part of the problem" after her admission that the league's upsurge in popularity is not all down to just the box office draw of Caitlin Clark .
The former women's college basketball superstar's star has not dimmed following her move into the professional game after being drafted by the Indiana Fever . The point guard has enjoyed an exemplary season - setting 11 new records in her maiden campaign in the league en route to being named as Rookie of the Year.
During a memorable first season in Indianapolis, she ended the regular term averaging 19.2 points, a league-high 8.4 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game. Her heroics also saw the WNBA average a viewership of 657,000, with this representing the best total in nearly a quarter of a century.
WNBA star clarifies Caitlin Clark comments after joining new team following playoff defeat Caitlin Clark's absence from WNBA Playoffs speaks volumes after record viewership However, league commissioner sparked controversy recently as she refused to put this clear exponential growth of interest in the game down to just the Clark phenomenon. Speaking previously, she said of the Fever starlet: "She's clearly an unbelievable player.
"Came in with an unbelievable following, has brought a lot of new fans to the league," she continued, before praising some of the Indiana ace's peers. "If you look at our historic season in terms of our attendance, viewership - Caitlin, Angel Reese , too, Rickea Jackson, Cameron Brink. This class of rookies, we will be talking about them a generation from now."
"No league is ever about one player. That one player could get hurt, or whatever. So I think it's just to give recognition that in sports, people watch for compelling content and rivalries, and you can't do that alone as one person."
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However, her words did not do down well with the player's dedicated army of fans, with her advocates commenting on the WNBA chief's remarks. One disgruntled individual rallied back, saying: "The commissioner is clearly part of the problem, not part of the solution.
"Clark is the goose that lays golden eggs, and the entire WNBA is intent upon denying it. If the commissioner doesn't stop the hate and most importantly stop the abusive physical treatment of Clark by other players, and do something about the incompetent refs, the goose will leave and nobody will care about the WNBA again.
Meanwhile, another concurred, suggesting: "Sure, every player is important to growing the league popularity and not just the rookies, the veterans as well. But let's be honest here, there are just some players that put butts in seats night after night. We all know who they are.
A third fan added: "I followed LSU and Reese all thru college but if not for CC I would never have watched on WNBA game. I feel like there are many that feel the same way. We would all be saying Angel Reese WHO, if not for CC. Now of course the commissioner has to say different, but she knows the truth."
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