The WNBA is in the midst of a transformation unlike anything in its 28-year history. Packed arenas, sold-out merchandise, and private charter flights have replaced the league’s long-standing struggles with empty seats and budget travel. At the heart of this seismic shift is rookie sensation Caitlin Clark, whose arrival has injected unprecedented attention—and money—into women’s basketball. But as sports commentator Colin Cowherd recently observed, not everyone in the league is thrilled about this new era. Some, he argues, are actively resisting it.

From Motel 6 to the Four Seasons

Before Clark set foot on a WNBA court, the league was fighting for survival. Players endured grueling travel schedules, often flying commercial and staying in modest hotels. Team budgets were tight, and many athletes supplemented their income by playing overseas during the offseason. The WNBA, for all its talent and potential, was still waiting for its breakthrough moment.

Then came Caitlin Clark. Fresh off a record-shattering college career at Iowa, she brought not just her dazzling playmaking but a tidal wave of fan engagement. According to Cowherd, it was as if the entire league had been upgraded “overnight from a Motel 6 to the Four Seasons.” Merchandise sales soared by 500%. Attendance jumped 40%. The Indiana Fever, once an afterthought, suddenly had a waiting list for season tickets. National TV ratings spiked, and the league’s financial outlook brightened almost instantly.

Clark, Cowherd says, is the WNBA’s “golden goose.” But instead of universal gratitude, her presence has exposed deep rifts within the league.

Jealousy and the All-Star Snub

Cowherd didn’t mince words in a recent on-air segment. He accused some veteran WNBA players of “biting the hand that feeds them.” The evidence, he said, is clear in the voting for the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game. While fans overwhelmingly selected Clark as the top guard, her fellow players ranked her ninth—a shocking snub for the league’s biggest draw.

“How can the player single-handedly responsible for their upgraded hotels and packed arenas be deemed unworthy of a top spot by her peers?” Cowherd asked. He labeled it “pure pettiness,” arguing that years of complaints about lack of respect and media coverage have given way to a new hypocrisy: shunning the very superstar who brought those things to the league’s doorstep.

This resentment, Cowherd continued, isn’t just evident in voting booths. It’s visible on the court. Clark has faced hard fouls, aggressive defense, and a dismissive attitude from some opponents—treatment that goes beyond typical “rookie hazing.” For Cowherd, it’s all rooted in jealousy.

A Michael Jordan Moment

To put the situation in perspective, Cowherd compared Clark to Michael Jordan. Both entered their respective leagues as generational talents who immediately became must-watch television. Both faced resistance from established stars threatened by their arrival. In Jordan’s case, the Detroit Pistons famously devised the “Jordan Rules”—a strategy of relentless physicality designed to wear him down. Clark, too, has been targeted by opponents, with officials sometimes slow to protect the league’s most marketable asset.

The parallels don’t end there. Recognizing the need to protect their superstar, the Indiana Fever traded for Sophie Cunningham, a player known for her toughness. It’s reminiscent of the Chicago Bulls acquiring Charles Oakley to shield Jordan in his early years. “When you have a generational offensive talent who humiliates opponents, the response is always physical,” Cowherd explained. “It’s the ultimate, albeit brutal, compliment.”

But he insists this isn’t just about initiation—it’s a desperate attempt to stop a force of nature. Clark is already dominating offensive statistics, and, like Jordan before her, the adversity she faces now will only make her stronger.

The League’s Fork in the Road

The WNBA now finds itself at a crossroads. Clark’s star power has created a rare window of opportunity. The league can either rally around its new superstar and ride the wave to mainstream relevance and financial security, or it can allow internal divisions to fester, risking the momentum that Clark has generated.

Some players have embraced the moment. Teammates like Aliyah Boston, Kelsey Mitchell, and Sophie Cunningham have welcomed Clark, understanding that her success lifts everyone. They’re building chemistry and positioning themselves as key contributors to a new era in women’s basketball. These players, Cowherd predicts, will be remembered as collaborators in the league’s rise—not as obstacles.

But for those clinging to old hierarchies and resentments, the future is less certain. Cowherd’s warning was blunt: “The momentum is unstoppable. Clark is the WNBA’s jet fuel, the Steph Curry they will never trade. The league is at its least profitable point of what will be a lucrative decade, all thanks to her. The internal squabbling, the on-court cheap shots, and the petty voting only delay the inevitable.”

A New Standard for Women’s Basketball

The numbers speak for themselves. The WNBA is experiencing a cultural and financial renaissance. Players are finally enjoying the perks—charter flights, better accommodations, increased salaries—that they long demanded. But these gains are directly tied to the league’s newfound visibility, much of which is thanks to Clark’s magnetic appeal.

Yet the All-Star voting saga and the on-court targeting reveal a league still struggling with its own identity. Is it a meritocracy that rewards talent and marketability, or an insular club resistant to change? The answer will determine whether the WNBA can sustain its current trajectory.

The Golden Goose

Cowherd’s analogy is hard to ignore. When one person changes your fortunes so dramatically, you don’t complain—you adapt and capitalize. “Stop fighting the golden goose and start collecting the golden eggs,” he urged.

Clark herself has remained diplomatic, focusing on her game and deflecting questions about the hostility she’s faced. But her fans have not been so restrained. Social media is awash with slow-motion replays of uncalled fouls and the trending hashtag #FreeClark, as supporters demand better treatment for the league’s brightest star.

The Road Ahead

The WNBA’s future has never looked brighter, but it’s also never been more precarious. The league stands at a pivotal moment. Will it embrace the change Clark represents, or will it be held back by jealousy and old grudges? The answer will shape not only the fate of Clark and her teammates but the legacy of women’s basketball in America.

For now, the choice seems clear. The WNBA can unify behind its superstar and become a fixture in the mainstream sports landscape, or it can fracture, leaving behind those who refuse to evolve. As Cowherd put it, “The wave of success has arrived. Don’t let resentment drown you. Ride it to greatness.”