“She’s the One”: Colin Cowherd Torches Kelsey Plum for Caitlin Clark Comments — Calls Out Jealousy, Double Standards, and the WNBA’s Defining Moment

“You were flying Spirit Airlines before Caitlin arrived… now you’re in the Ritz. And you’re mad?”
Colin Cowherd didn’t hold back — and the internet can’t stop replaying it.

Caitlin Clark didn’t ask to be the center of a firestorm — but the WNBA just can’t seem to stop combusting around her. And now, with Kelsey Plum’s pointed remarks stirring fresh controversy, Colin Cowherd has stepped in with what might be the most brutally honest take yet.

On his recent broadcast, Cowherd didn’t just criticize Plum — he tore into the culture of bitterness and jealousy that seems to be brewing inside the WNBA locker room. His explosive monologue called out the hidden agendas, misplaced resentment, and double standards that are threatening the league’s biggest opportunity in decades.

And if you thought he was pulling punches? You haven’t been paying attention.

The Moment That Lit the Match

It all started at WNBA All-Star Weekend, where players rallied around the cause of equal pay by wearing protest shirts and demanding a bigger slice of league revenue. Unity was the theme… until Kelsey Plum broke the mood.

In a postgame press conference, she called out “Team Clark” for not attending a meeting about the pay protest:

“Not to tattletale, but zero members of Team Clark were very present for that.”

The tone? Icy. The implication? Clear. Clark and her teammates weren’t there for the sisterhood moment.

Social media went nuclear. Was it shade? A power play? Or just plain resentment?

Colin Cowherd’s Mic-Drop Moment

Enter Colin Cowherd, who — in classic Colin fashion — threw gasoline on the fire and then lit the match on-air.

“Why take a shot at the Golden Goose?”

Cowherd made it clear: the WNBA has struggled for decades to build consistent revenue and visibility. But now, thanks to Clark, it finally has:

500% increase in merch sales

40% spike in attendance

Consistent social media trends

Sellout arenas across the country

“You were flying Spirit Airlines before Caitlin arrived. Now you’re staying at the Ritz… and you’re complaining?”

Cowherd didn’t mince words. Caitlin Clark is the driver of the WNBA’s success right now — and players attacking her for not showing up to a closed-door meeting is a massive misread of the moment.

The Caitlin Clark Effect: What Everyone’s Missing

Cowherd’s point was this: Caitlin Clark is not just a rookie — she’s a market force. A once-in-a-generation player whose name alone moves tickets, merchandise, and viewership.

“Last year, Caitlin Clark was 26% of all WNBA economic activity — as a rookie.”

She’s also injured, still adjusting, and nowhere near her peak — but she’s already outdrawing veterans, getting primetime coverage, and elevating her entire team’s status.

“This is her Year 2 Jordan season. She’s struggling now. Wait until she’s at full strength — and the rest of the league benefits.”

And that’s the key: Everyone benefits when someone like Clark breaks through.
But instead of rallying behind her, some players are creating unnecessary tension.

Jealousy or Justice? Colin Sees Through It

Cowherd pulled no punches:

“This isn’t about solidarity. This is about resentment.”
“You don’t accidentally leave the most visible athlete in the sport out of the movement.”

He likened the situation to a struggling band that finally gets famous after a new member joins — only to turn on the one person who got them out of the Motel 6 and into the Ritz Carlton.

“If you added a member to your band and now you’re flying private, are you really going to throw shade at the new guy?”

The message was clear: This isn’t about whether Clark is doing “enough” — it’s about insecurity. And it’s not a good look.

Kelsey Plum: Moment of Honesty or Missed Opportunity?

To be fair, Kelsey Plum has been one of the WNBA’s biggest names, and she’s never been shy about speaking her mind. But even her fans cringed at the way she delivered her comment.

Rather than sparking productive discussion, it felt like a targeted dig at the one player who has done more to grow the league in six months than most have in six years.

Even Sabrina Ionescu, sitting next to Plum during the presser, visibly winced.

“Her face said it all. That wasn’t a unifying moment — that was a warning shot.”

Clark Already Cashed In — And That’s What Makes This Worse

As Cowherd bluntly reminded viewers, Caitlin Clark is doing just fine.

“She’s already made over $11 million this year in endorsements. She’s not worried about a salary bump.”

But the players throwing shade? They need that league check. And ironically, they’re only getting those bigger paydays because of Clark’s presence.

Cowherd’s message to them was direct:

“She elevated your platform. She got you the endorsement looks. You’re not playing in obscurity anymore. Scale back the angst.”

The Bigger Picture: A League on the Brink of Greatness

This isn’t just about one comment or one segment.

Cowherd connected it to a larger trend — the moment when a league can choose evolution or self-destruction.

“The WNBA is finally worth the fight. But drama like this threatens the whole win streak.”

Just like the Big Ten overtaking the SEC in college football, there are times when the landscape shifts — and only those willing to adapt, grow, and evolve will survive the new era.

The smart WNBA players? They’ll recognize Caitlin Clark for what she is: not a threat, but a multiplier.

Final Take: Is Cowherd Right — Or Going Too Far?

Cowherd’s message was raw, unfiltered, and unapologetically pro-Clark:

“This isn’t even her final form.”

“She is the league’s lifeline.”

“Stop fighting the momentum. Build with it.”

So where do you stand?

Is Caitlin Clark being unfairly targeted?

Are players like Kelsey Plum hurting their own cause?

Or is this just a messy part of a league learning how to handle fame?