Caitlin Clark is believed to have been left off a WNBA poster celebrating the league’s 30th anniversary because of her own licensing rules.
Fans were left infuriated when the WNBA posted an image showing some of the league’s most famous faces, past and present, to commemorate the milestone on Thursday.
But there was no sign of Clark, the Indiana Fever superstar who has transformed the fortunes of the WNBA since entering the league in 2024, on WinCraft’s creation.
Darren Rovell, the founder of collectibles media site Cllct Media, explained that the actual reason why Clark was left off is because she doesn’t allow the likes of WinCraft to use her likeness.
Other than Nike, who Clark signed an eight-year, $28million contract with back in 2024, Clark only allows licensees to use her name and number.
The initial outrage at the poster came after Clark appeared to be punched in the throat by Alyssa Thomas of the Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday night.
The WNBA posted an image showing some of the league’s most famous faces, past and present, to celebrate its 30th anniversary
But there was no sign of Clark, the Indiana Fever superstar who has transformed the league
The WNBA announced on Thursday night that Thomas was retroactively assessed a Flagrant Foul 2 and would be suspended for her next game.
But it was the latest example of Clark falling victim to rough treatment from rivals, which also marred her rookie season in 2024.
In the aftermath, Clark was urged to leave the WNBA behind by Boomer Esiason, the 1988 NFL MVP who now works as a New York sports radio host.
He said on Thursday morning: ‘If I were Caitlin Clark, I would seriously consider going to play overseas somewhere and get the royal treatment and get real money.
‘I know that Caitlin makes a tonne of money off the court in terms of endorsements and rightly so but there is some petty jealousy.
‘She’s a straight white basketball player and she is not being treated with any sort of respect whatsoever.’
The clash with Thomas sparked fury on social media, with Dave Portnoy among those to lash out at the Mercury player.
The Barstool Sports chief posted on X: ‘What are we even doing here? Brutal cheap shot.
‘These women would still be flying commercial without Caitlin and this is how she is treated. Insane.’
Clark was driving to the hoop when she fell to the ground in the paint while under pressure from a number of Mercury defenders, who were battling to strip the ball away and succeeded in doing so.
But, while Clark lay on the floor, Thomas charged in and put her closed fist into the Indiana Fever superstar’s neck.
Phoenix Mercury star Alyssa Thomas was retroactively suspended for hitting Clark
Thomas dove to the ground for a loose ball and hit Clark in the throat with a closed fist
Clark’s coach, Stephanie White said it was ‘egregious’ and ‘disrespectful’ a foul wasn’t called
She then appeared to put her weight through it and pushed off Clark’s throat to get back to her feet before stepping over her to rejoin the game.
A reverse angle showed Thomas, while jostling on their way down to the floor, also drove her left knee into Clark’s exposed groin.
Despite video replays showing the incident, referees did not call a foul even though there was an official just yards away. The WNBA could review it for a flagrant foul.
‘It was egregious and clearly disrespectful. The fact that it was a no-call … You got to call it,’ said Fever coach Stephanie White.
‘You’re coming in here aware of what happened two nights ago and that f***ing still happens? Absolutely unacceptable.’
To make things worse, Clark left the Fever’s 111-109 loss to Phoenix with a back injury during the second half.
The All-Star guard has been dealing with a back issue this season and left with 5:15 remaining in the third quarter. She went back to the locker room and didn’t return.
Clark appeared to tweak her back in the second quarter when she was fouled shooting a three-pointer. She fell to the ground and was rubbing her back as she stood up.
After Clark suffered her back injury, Portnoy posted again. This time he wrote: ‘Caitlin tweaked her back on this foul. Eventually checked out and didn’t return. The @WNBA unfortunately reaps what it sows.’
The two teams met Monday night and there were six technical fouls called and one ejection. Clark picked up her fifth technical in that game. The team is petitioning the league to have it rescinded.
