Candace Parker Just Said What Every Caitlin Clark Fan Has Been Screaming: Why the WNBA Needs to Listen—Now

The 2024 WNBA season was supposed to mark a historic turning point for women’s basketball—a leap into the mainstream fueled by rookie sensation Caitlin Clark. Instead, it’s revealed just how resistant to change old mindsets, bitter rivalries, and outdated league leadership can be. It seemed the louder Clark’s accomplishments became, the more entrenched the old guard’s bitterness and the league’s double standards grew. But now, a voice too respected to ignore has cut through the noise: the legendary Candace Parker.

Her message? Stop with the jealousy. Embrace the moment. The future of women’s basketball depends on it.

The Caitlin Clark Effect: Numbers Don’t Lie

Before we dig into Candace Parker’s perspective, it’s worth examining what’s become so contentious: Caitlin Clark’s impact. In every measurable way, she has taken the WNBA to uncharted heights.

Record-breaking TV ratings: Preseason games drew 1.3 million viewers. Regular season openers soared to 2.7 million—the most watched in 25 years. Peak audiences have topped 3.3 million. This isn’t just marginal growth. It’s an explosion.
Ticket sales and arena sellouts: Teams are relocating games to larger venues just to meet demand. Merch flies off shelves faster than the league can restock.
Revenue: League projections estimate Clark will drive over a billion dollars in revenue in 2024 alone.

Fans aren’t just watching Clark—they’re sticking around. Even in her absence due to injury, Fever games continue to outpace historical league averages. But the moment she’s sidelined, ticket prices and buzz plummet. The numbers make one thing clear: The WNBA’s newfound attention is thanks to Clark, and that’s not up for debate.

The Backlash: Jealousy, Double Standards, and Ugly Narratives

Instead of celebrating this meteoric rise, much of the conversation—inside and outside of the league—has fixated on controversy:

Jealousy and resentment: WNBA insiders and media ask Candace Parker, of all people, if she’s “resentful” of Clark’s fame. A living legend being asked if she’s jealous underscores how deep the bitterness runs.

Race-baiting and deflection: Instead of crediting Clark’s on-court brilliance, some narratives reduce her popularity to a race issue, erasing the fact that her impact uplifts the entire league.

League silence: When Clark and her teammates face legitimate threats—online abuse, personal attacks, even death threats—the league’s response is tepid at best. No public condemnation, no protective action.

At a time when the WNBA should be relishing its moment in the spotlight, it’s fighting itself—distracted by jealousy, division, and a refusal to acknowledge the source of its growth.

Candace Parker’s Reality Check: Leave the Game Better Than You Found It

On ESPN’s First Take, Candace Parker delivered the response every Caitlin Clark supporter has wanted to hear. When asked—yet again—if she’s resentful about Clark’s rapid rise, Parker was unequivocal.

“My job was to leave the game better than I came into it. You think Cheryl Miller is resentful of me because I had a league to play in? No—she’s sitting courtside, cheering on Juju Watkins. And I’m doing the same for Caitlin Clark and all the women in the WNBA.”

It’s a blueprint every athlete—and every league executive—should follow. True legends aren’t jealous of the pioneers who come afterward. They’re proud to have paved the way. Parker’s message was simple but revolutionary for this moment: Lift as you climb. Celebrate the growth, no matter who drives it, because the rising tide lifts all boats.

Legends Agree: It’s Time to Support, Not Undercut

Parker isn’t alone. Lisa Leslie, another WNBA icon, has said it outright: Why resent Clark for bringing television eyeballs and ticket revenue never before seen in women’s basketball? Why punish the player whose popularity forces the league into larger arenas just to meet demand?

The NBA learned this decades ago. Players like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and LeBron James received the full backing of the league’s marketing machine—and the sport benefitted for generations. For the WNBA to repeat that success, it must set aside pettiness and resistance to change.

Why the League Should Listen: The Stakes Have Never Been Higher

The situation is urgent. Clark’s effect may be immediate, but for it to last, the WNBA must:

Protect its stars:

 When Clark is targeted or injured, the league must act as swiftly and forcefully as it would for any major revenue driver in professional sports.

Celebrate, don’t dilute, the driver of growth:

 League leadership must acknowledge, without qualification, who is moving the needle—and build around that momentum, not disperse it out of misplaced fairness.

Keep it about basketball:

 As Parker said, don’t let outside noise—whether about race, rivalry, or resentment—distract from the game itself. Clark’s ascent is about skill, work ethic, and results, not identity politics.

Build for the next star:

 Just as Parker once carried the torch, and now Clark, the league’s task is to build a foundation for whoever comes next—creating a cycle of sustained growth.

The future of the WNBA is at a crossroads. Will it squander this historic moment out of insecurity and infighting, or will it mature into the mainstream behemoth fans know it can be?

Moving Forward: A League Ready to Grow Up

Candace Parker’s comments should be a wake-up call for players, coaches, media, and league executives alike. “Leave the game better than you found it,” she insisted. That’s the legacy every generation should embrace.

Caitlin Clark has supercharged the WNBA’s profile, just like Michael Jordan did for the NBA decades ago. The task now isn’t to humble her, minimize her impact, or wait for her to falter. It’s to grasp this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, clear away the distractions, and let women’s basketball shine like never before.

If women’s basketball is to reach its fullest, richest potential, the league must heed the advice of its trailblazers—not the insecurities of its past. It’s time to celebrate the rise, silence the noise, and, as Candace Parker did, focus on building a future where every star gets the chance to elevate the game for all.

Because as Parker made clear: true greatness is measured by what you leave behind—not by what you try to keep for yourself.