If Clark bails, I say good for her

I know this space is generally devoted to football this time of year. But watching Tennessee’s lather-rinse-repeat approach to football lately seemed like an exercise in redundancy.

Instead, I’ll turn my attention to Caitlin Clark and the WNBA.

I know the WNBA hasn’t really made a lot of people happy with it’s treatment of Clark, perhaps the league’s hottest entity ever. Keep in mind, there are a lot of talented women playing in the league. But none have captured the fancy of basketball fans, men and women, like Clark has.

In college, she showcased her marksmanship as a shooter and competitor. She gained a following which swelled each time she took the floor. Soon, Clark was the hottest commodity in basketball, male or female.

The Indiana Fever drafted her in the first round, which was the shot in the arm that franchise needed. Ever since Linn Dunn won the WNBA title with the Fever, that franchise has struggled.

Enter Clark. She showcases her talent and leads what was once a floundering franchise back to the WNBA playoffs, carrying with her a huge TV audience and large crowds.

And what did she showcase? Her ability to score from anywhere on the court. She is not a one-trick pony. Clark can hit the shot from the logo with consistency, but she has handles, too. She can drive the lane, navigate through traffic and find the hoop.

More than that, she is proficient in finding open players. She has a fantastic ability to locate teammates and gather assists. She’s not a ball hog. She distributes the rock very well.

She also plays defense and rebounds well. Franchises have moved their home games to larger venues to accommodate the interest in Clark. She’s the total package and the reason why she’s filling up arenas, despite what the delusional Angel Reese says.

She won the WNBA rookie-of-the-year honor and deservedly so. She led her team to the playoffs. What’s not to like about Clark?

Well, it seems a new three-on-three league has taken a shine to the former Iowa standout. The league, called Unrivaled, is looking for a way to develop its brand by luring Clark away from the WNBA.

If her services can be acquired, I say good for her. Go for it.

The WNBA has a treasure in its midst and it’s treating her like garbage. She wasn’t picked for the Olympics, which would have brought many more eyes to TV sets across the globe. The league begrudgingly allowed her to be an all-star. She is mauled on the court by other players to the point of frustration. Then she gets teed up when she complains.

The WNBA has a bell cow, yet it is treating her like like what a bell cow might leave behind, if you get my drift.

If Clark wants to bail out on the WNBA for the big money of a new league, yes, it’s a gamble, but I say good riddance to the financially-struggling league.

Clark deserves better…and will probably get it.

Jim Steele is a correspondent for Richardson Media Group and can be reached on X @steelesports and via email at pressbox1@gmail.com.