As of late, the WNBA discourse has largely centered around Indiana Fever point guard Caitlin Clark and the way that she is refereed and the physical way that her opponents play her. The conversation reached new heights after Phoenix Mercury star Alyssa Thomas struck her in the throat area.
Things have even reached Washington, D.C., where several Republican members of Congress penned a letter to WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert about what they deemed to be "repeated" acts of violence against Caitlin Clark and even posited that it could be racially motivated.
The Fever organization moved quickly to distance itself from the letter, releasing a statement that neither it nor Clark had any knowledge of the letter or contact with the members of Congress.
However, the damage was done, and it led to more discourse on social media that had nothing to do with the actual basketball being played on the floor. As much of an economic engine as she has been for the WNBA, some think all the negativity that has come with Clark's presence has been a net negative on the league.
"Caitlin Clark dead ***** might be the worst thing to happen to the WNBA. And she ain't got the self awareness or care to tell her fans to stop," one fan posted on X.