Caitlin Clark has helped the WNBA grow this season by carrying her collegiate fanbase to the professional league, bringing in new audiences to the product in the process. Despite her contribution to the league as a whole, according to Rachel DeMita, there are still some jealous eyes staring at the Indiana Fever rookie.
The former All-American pointed out one person in particular, Alyssa Thomas, who recently decried the racism in the league.
On the latest episode of her “Courtside Club” podcast, DeMita talked about the Fever’s elimination from the WNBA playoffs by the Connecticut Sun and how there’s still some form of jealousy of Clark among some of the players in the sport.
While she agreed that Thomas’ comments about racism should be taken seriously, the former Old Dominion shooting guard said that it was a little too late and too focused on the Fever’s online fanbase. She also raised the issue of Caitlin Clark receiving unwarranted hate from Chicago Sky fans as well as her peers.
“Alyssa Thomas is probably not going to have to worry about (Fever fans) anymore. There’s going to be a significant amount of less fans watching the WNBA now that Caitlyn is no longer in the picture,” DeMita said.
“That is the point that I’m really not understanding in all of this, and I feel like it’s been such a pattern throughout the entire season. It feels like there are still certain people within the WNBA who want the league to grow, but they don’t want it to grow if it’s certain people at the face,” she added.
She further opined that there is still “this undertone of jealousy” in the league, especially toward the Fever rookie.
“I thought it was going to get better this season, but it hasn’t. There are still people who, seemingly to me, feel like they just don’t want Caitlyn to be a part of it,” DeMita further stated.
DeMita however, notes that the hate goes both ways, as while the Fever fans spew vitriol toward the players who go up against Caitlin Clark, there are also those outside Indiana, such as the Chicago Sky fans, who spew the same thing against Indiana’s favorite rookie.
Meanwhile, Caitlin Clark has almost always been seen barely acknowledging all the hate and trolling she receives.
What are Caitlin Clark’s offseason plans?
Caitlin Clark’s postseason ended early with the Indiana Fever being eliminated in the first round of the 2024 WNBA playoffs. At her postgame press conference, the rookie was asked if the rumors of her playing abroad or in the Unrivaled League during the offseason are true.
Caitlin Clark admitted that she doesn’t have any concrete offseason plans, except perhaps playing golf.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do tomorrow, I don’t know what I’m going to do the next day. Maybe play some golf. I think that’s what I’m gonna do until it becomes too cold in Indiana,” the rookie said. “I’ll become a professional golfer.”
Most players in the WNBA like to stay active during the offseason, opting to play in European, Asian, or Australian leagues. Another option, the Unrivaled League founded by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, is set to open in January next year.
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