The Indiana Fever and Dallas Wings are set to clash Friday night in what could be a playoff preview, but the buzz leading into the game isn't about X's and O's. It's about a glaring omission from the broadcast.
ION, the network airing the game, unveiled its pregame graphic for the Fever-Wings tilt, and somehow Caitlin Clark wasn't on it. Instead, the network spotlighted Lexie Hull, who averages just 5.5 points per game this season. Meanwhile, Dallas stars Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale got their rightful place in the promo.
The snub didn't sit well with fans or media personalities. OutKick founder Clay Travis didn't mince words: "The WNBA refusing to promote Caitlin Clark is impossible to explain. Imagine the NBA not using Jordan, Kobe or LeBron when promoting their teams." Barstool Sports' Dave Portnoy chimed in with a simple "They out here trolling now?"
OutKick writer Ian Miller piled on, calling the WNBA "the pettiest organization" he's ever seen. Another fan on social media noted the irony: "Promoting the Fever vs Wings with Lexi Hull & Raven Johnson, instead of Caitlin Clark & Kelsey Mitchell, is purely for engagement."
This isn't an isolated incident. Earlier this year, the league left Clark off its 30th anniversary poster, a decision that drew sharp criticism from across the sports world. Fox Sports radio host Colin Cowherd blasted the league, saying, "This isn't an ode to the veterans who started the league – Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese are on it. When she broke into the league, you moved her road games to accommodate the fans. She made such an impact that you transitioned to private jets. And yet Caitlin isn't on the 30-year poster."
Cowherd also highlighted Clark's massive ratings impact, noting her games drew double the viewership of A'ja Wilson's. "This is a paranoid, weird, insular league," he added.
The recurring pattern has left many wondering why the league and its broadcast partners continue to sideline its most marketable star. As recent ratings surges show what fans truly crave, the decision to omit Clark from promotional materials seems counterproductive at best.
Clark has been a lightning rod for attention since entering the league, and her absence from a graphic for her own game is baffling. The Fever have seen unequal treatment of Clark before, and this latest oversight only adds fuel to the fire.
As the Fever and Wings prepare to battle, the focus should be on the court. But until the league and its networks stop overlooking its biggest draw, the controversy isn't going away.
