Indiana Fever fans criticized the WNBA for a move that they described as “marketing suicide” after the league’s official X account shared game-day graphics without Caitlin Clark while promoting Sunday’s games, the Las Vegas Aces vs. Atlanta Dream and Seattle Storm vs. the Fever.
Fans took note of the league’s graphics, citing how they used a picture of Fever rookie Raven Johnson, instead of Caitlin Clark, saying that it was a marketing mistake.
Here are the most notable reactions on X:
“The WNBA is promoting a bench player for the Fever instead of Caitlin Clark to ensure the graphic includes four black women. Marketing suicide,” one fan said.
“CC set a WNBA record for the most games with 20 pts, 10 assists. You would think the league would want to promote the game. But the angry lesbians don’t like her,” another fan said.
“What business doesn’t use the biggest draw in its advertisements? Imagine the NBA not including, say, Michael Jordan and using Luc Longley instead,” a fan wrote.
“Imagine if CC were black and gay, then the WNBA would feel free to promote her. This stuff is so baffling that it will be studied for decades. This would NEVER happen in men’s sports. I’m not even a CC fan, but it’s obvious how they tiptoe around her, worried that they will offend someone,” another fan wrote.
“Y’all want people to take y’all seriously and then post up somebody averaging triple 1 😂 you are your own worst enemy,” one fan commented.
While some fans criticized Johnson’s inclusion in the graphic, others pointed to her being among the highest-rated prospects in the 2026 draft class. The Fever drafted Johnson with the No. 10 pick. She has yet to find her footing under Stephanie White, averaging just 9.5 minutes through her first four games.
Indiana has nine guards on its roster, meaning that Johnson will face increased competition for minutes this season.
The WNBA was criticized for a similar reason at the start of the season after fans called them out for not including Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers in the promotion material for the Wings-Fever season opener on May 9.
Caitlin Clark Posts Near Triple-Double in Fever’s Second Win of the Season
Caitlin Clark was key for the Fever in Monday’s game against the Seattle Storm, helping them to a 89-78 win. The Fever is 2-2 this season. Clark was close to notching a triple-double in Monday’s game, finishing with 21 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds, shooting 5-for-10, including 2-for-4 from 3-point range.
Kelsey Mitchell recorded 17 points and two assists, shooting 8-for-18. Sophie Cunningham also proved effective off the bench, recording 17 points and three rebounds on 5-for-9 shooting.
Fever rookie Raven Johnson, who was on the WNBA’s pre-game graphic for the matchup, had a rough night in the contest, going scoreless with four rebounds in 17 minutes. The Storm, meanwhile, was led by Natisha Heideman, who signed with the team as a free agent this summer. She finished with 19 points and two assists, shooting 7-for-18.
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