By Ray Cardello for August 10, 2026, Season 32 / Post  40

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We have been watching the WNBA implode over the last couple of years, when it should be prospering and growing in the Kaitlin Clark era. Kaitlin Clark is a once-in-a-generation player and personality who many credit with giving the fledgling league the credibility it lacked, even after 30 years. There have been many incredible female athletes that made their mark in college and went on to successful years in the WNBA, but none have drawn the attention that Clark brought to Division I ball or should be bringing to the pros. Clark is not your prototypical basketball player. She is not very tall, is white and straight, but she can shoot and score from anywhere in the offensive zone. Once Clark crosses half court, she is in scoring range, and her scoring records at Iowa prove this to be true. Just as she sold out arenas in her collegiate career, she has done the same thing at Indiana and has crushed the ratings when the Fever games are broadcast. She has brought attention, and more importantly for the league and players, money to the league, and if league management was awake to what was happening, they would embrace Clark the way that the PGA took in Tiger Woods. This is not the case. The WNBA has done such a poor job of cashing in on the Clark Era that books will be written about it.

Clark has been the target of hard fouls and obvious attempts to injure Clark. The quality and level of officiating have been brought to the forefront and have become far too much of the story. Instead of taking advantage of an influx of incredible talent and the increase in attendance and TV ratings, the league has gone out of its way not to protect Clark or any other player from flagrant fouls that are obviously committed to injure key players. Instead of cashing in on Clark’s popularity, they purposely dissed her by omitting her from the official 30-year WNBA poster. That would be tantamount to keeping Tiger or Jack off of any official promotional piece for the PGA. Instead of being a voice for women in sports and protecting the female players in the league, they have gone out of their way to support the WOKE belief that biological men should be allowed to participate. Coaches have worn T-shirts on the courtside to promote and support transgender athletes. One coach refused to acknowledge that the W in WNBA stood for Women.

Two former NBA players, Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White, announced their intentions to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft. They stated their moves are meant to challenge and question the league’s inclusion and self-identification policies amid ongoing public debates regarding transgender athletes in women’s sports.  Freedom and White are calling the WNBA’s bluff. Is the league going to come out in favor of their female athletes, or are they going to defy science, chase the quick dollar, and place their players in jeopardy? How ironic that it may take two studs to save the WNBA from itself. They are forcing the WNBA to define a woman, something they have declined to do, and finally take the steps necessary to protect and support women. Amazingly, it has taken this movement 30 years to face itself and do what should have been second nature. Is it too late to get Clark, Freedom, and White on the 30th anniversary portrait?

Author’s Note: Graphics created by Grok AI. Grok’s comments about the images: This landscape piece captures the core tension in your article. The spotlighted shooter represents the generational talent and drawing power of a player like Caitlin Clark — pure skill and marketability that should be elevating the league. The darker, unsettled elements in the background quietly nod to the self-inflicted wounds you describe: poor protection of star players, ideological priorities over competitive integrity, and the missed opportunity to fully capitalize on a once-in-a-generation moment.

Purely for fun, as requested. It plays on the exact scenario your article raises — Clark plus the two guys calling the league’s bluff — without turning it mean-spirited. The energy is competitive and a little absurd, which fits the “just for fun” request.