With the WNBA season just around the corner, the league is buzzing with excitement—and one veteran player is offering a rare nod of gratitude to the fanbase that’s helped fuel the fire. Seattle Storm guard Lexie Brown, who’s been in the league since 2018, didn’t hold back when asked about the impact of Caitlin Clark and her supporters on the WNBA’s meteoric rise.
In a recent interview with Fox News Digital, Brown acknowledged that Clark and the entire 2024 draft class have been a game-changer for women’s basketball. “Has it changed how people view the WNBA? Absolutely,” Brown said. “I think unfortunately, our value, the respect that we got has been directly attached to how much money we make—and it’s not rocket science to see that since her arrival, and the rest of that 2024 class, the WNBA has skyrocketed.”
Brown didn’t stop there. She took a moment to address the often-criticized legion of Clark fans, who’ve been known for their passionate—and sometimes polarizing—social media presence. While Brown admitted she doesn’t always agree with everything they post, she made it clear that their engagement has been a net positive for the league. “There’s now a greater separation between fans and players… we were such like a niche, small community, tight-knit community for so long, and the WNBA has finally broken into this mainstream sports media space,” she explained. “So I’m not gonna say I’m not appreciative… these eyes, these new viewers have changed so many of our lives.”
That sentiment stands in stark contrast to the usual friction between players and Clark’s online army. But Brown’s perspective highlights a broader truth: the WNBA’s growth—from better contracts to a new Collective Bargaining Agreement—has been accelerated by the attention Clark’s fans bring. It’s a shift that Brown, who has seen the league from the inside for years, fully embraces.
Meanwhile, Clark’s fans are locked in a different battle—this time with ESPN. The network recently released its list of the top 50 WNBA players for 2026, and Clark landed at No. 10, sparking immediate backlash. ESPN’s crew—Kendra Andrews, Kareem Copeland, Charlie Creme, and Michael Voepel—acknowledged Clark’s rookie brilliance, noting she “received the fourth-most MVP votes as a rookie while setting a single-season league record for assists.” But fans were quick to cry foul. “Disrespect her & use her image to get clicks,” one Fever supporter wrote, while another argued, “I love Paige, but how is she ahead of CC after one yr?”
The debate rages on, but Brown’s words offer a refreshing counterpoint: appreciation over animosity. As Clark prepares to silence her critics in the upcoming season, it’s clear that even within the league, there’s recognition of the wave she’s riding. For more on the tension around Clark’s ranking, check out our coverage on ESPN's WNBA Top 50 List Sparks Fury.
Brown’s interview serves as a reminder that sports fandom isn’t just about noise—it’s about impact. And for a league that’s finally broken into the mainstream, every viewer counts.
