Former Phoenix Suns player and ex-Phoenix Mercury announcer Eddie A. Johnson backed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s take on Cailin Clark not being the face of the WNBA.
The debate started after Kareem argued that labeling Clark as the “face of the WNBA” this early in her career overlooks the accomplishments of several veteran stars who helped build the league.
“My first reaction to this letter was to check the calendar and make sure it wasn’t April Fools’ Day,” he wrote. “Don’t get me wrong: Clark is a very good, possibly even a great, player. But calling any one player the face of the league, absent the sort of on-court and cross-platform dominance of a Michael Jordan or a LeBron James, is an insult to an awful lot of great players.”
Johnson echoed that sentiment in a post on X, writing:
“Caitlin is a very good basketball player with an excitable game and yes she is a magnet, but in order to be the Face, you got to be the best or close to it. Aja Wilson is the best player in the WNBA and there are numerous others that are ahead of Caitlin. She’s not there yet!”
Johnson’s remarks mirrored Kareem’s take that popularity alone should not determine who represents the league.
Dave Portnoy Calls Out Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Not everyone agreed with Kareem’s stance. Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy came to Clark’s defense, arguing that the Fever guard never claimed to be the face of the WNBA herself.
“Let’s keep in mind Caitlin didn’t ask for this,” Portnoy wrote. “She’s never said she was the face of the league. She’s always shown respect for those who came before her. She could squash this league like a bug if she started her own league.”
“When she was asked to do the NBA 3-point contest, she said she wanted to do the WNBA one first. She has fought for players’ salaries. But she is by far the most popular player in the league by every metric possible,” he added. “Was it disrespectful to past tennis players when Serena and Venus instantly became the faces of women’s tennis or Tiger with golf? The market dictates who the face of the league is, and it’s clearly Caitlin. This argument makes zero sense and is just steeped in jealousy and stupidity,” he added.
Kareem and Johnson see the title as something earned through years of playing in the league and winning championships. While Portnoy believes market impact and fan interest are the deciding factors, areas where Clark has transformed the WNBA.
Clark herself has never publicly declared that she is the face of the league. Whether fans focus on on-court accomplishments or cultural impact, Caitlin Clark’s influence on the WNBA league cannot be ignored.
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