The Indiana Fever Rookie Caitlin Clark has been bringing an unprecedented level of interest to the WNBA this season. Unfortunately for her and the league, however, new reports are indicating that even she isn’t enough to make the WNBA profitable.
WNBA Losing $50 Million
The Washington Post reported that the WNBA and its teams are projected to lose around $50 million this year. This means that they are still very much in the red.
The WNBA has actually lost money each year that it has been in existence. In fact, the WNBA has been able to survive this long largely because the NBA has subsidized them, according to The Daily Caller.
“The truth is, this league would be hard-pressed to exist without the NBA,” one WNBA team executive admitted.
“On average (we’ve lost) over $10 million every year we’ve operated,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver told The Associated Press back in 2018. He said this when asked how much money the NBA invests in the WNBA every year.
The WNBA has been around for 28 years. This means that the NBA has invested over $250 million in the women’s league with virtually no return on that investment!
Clark may be bringing more eyeballs to the WNBA than ever before, but it’s going to take more than just one season of increased viewership to save this league.
Related: WNBA Just Released Attendance And TV Rating Numbers, And Wow the Caitlin Clark Effect is Real
Clark Being Mistreated By WNBA Players
The fact that the WNBA is losing so much money makes the way that Clark is being treated by her fellow players all the more baffling. Instead of appreciating the interest that Clark is bringing to their sport, many of her fellow WNBA players have treated her horribly.
Some believe that Clark’s fellow WNBA players are jealous of the attention that she’s receiving. This jealousy has allegedly blinded them to the benefits that can come from Clark’s popularity.
“I expect men to be petty, because we’re the most insecure group in the world, Y’all should be thanking that girl for getting y’all *** private charters, all the money and visibility she’s bringing to the WNBA,” the NBA legend Charles Barkley said last month. “Don’t be petty like dudes.”
“Y’all girls, Stop being petty,” he added. “Caitlin Clark, thank you for bringing all that money and shine to the WNBA.”
Watch Barkley talk more about this in the video below.
Related: Caitlin Clark Left Off USA Olympic Team Because Veterans Didn’t Want To Deal With Her Fans: Report
NBA Head’s Plea To Fans
Earlier this week, the NBA Commissioner Adam Silver begged players and fans alike to give Clark some room to adapt.
“I believe she’s going to deliver,” he said. “She seems to have the character and the drive and the will and the talent. But let her evolve as a player. I want to take the pressure off her, not put more pressure on her.”
Check out Silver’s full comments on this in the video below.
Clark should certainly be given room to adapt to the WNBA. However, she should also be given more respect from her fellow players.
If the WNBA is ever going to get out of the financial hole that they’re in, they’re going to need Clark for many years to come!
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