Cindy Brunson slams narrative about Caitlin Clark 'saving the WNBA': “The W didn’t need saving, it just needed promotion”

Caitlin Clark continues to be one of the most polarizing figures in WNBA history. The Indiana Fever rookie has millions of fans and her fair share of critics. Since collegiate ball in Iowa, many have had opposing opinions about her skills, future and impact.

Clark’s impact in the pros, though, is undeniable. Viewership and attendance records skyrocket when she and the Fever play. The 2024 WNBA draft became the most watched in the event’s history largely because of the former Hawkeyes superstar.

However, some are convinced that Caitlin Clark's impact has been overblown. Cindy Brunson, the Phoenix Mercury play-by-play announcer had this to say about the league’s rising popularity vis-a-vis Clark’s arrival (via Rachel Annamarie DeMita):

“Here’s a news flash. The WNBA didn’t need saving. It just needed promotion. The product has never been the problem. It has always been the promotion.” (2:50)

If Brunson’s passionate monologue was right, then why did the WNBA struggle to fix the issue for decades until now? Couldn’t it be that the product hasn’t been in great demand?

AS.Com reports that the WNBA receives "an annual endowment of over $15 million" from the NBA. This money is for "operating costs for WNBA teams, including facilities, travel, marketing, and administration.”

The piece further explained why the “W” needs to be subsidized, stating that income from “ticket sales, merchandise, and broadcasting deals are not sufficient to sustain WNBA operations independently.”

In just the first 13 games this season, Caitlin Clark’s impact was already indisputable. The average attendance during that stretch when she played was 15,691.6, per SportsCasting. All other games without the Indiana Fever rookie averaged 7,645.3.

And here’s the juicy part from the report:

“About 203,991 fans have come to watch Clark during her rookie season (13 games), meaning that the Fever star has actually driven about ⅓ of the total WNBA attendance in 2024.”

The WNBA hasn't felt that impact from any player previously and Caitlin Clark is the product that even non-basketball fans want to watch.

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Cindy Brunson predicted Caitlin Clark would struggle in the WNBA

When Caitlin Clark announced her intention to turn pro, many were again divided by her decision. Many thought her game would translate well, considering her pace, playmaking and shooting. Cindy Brunson thought otherwise.

Here’s what Brunson had to say in an interview about Clark’s first year playing in the WNBA:

“Caitlin Clark is going to run into defenders that are taller, that are wider and that are stronger than she has ever faced in college. … The game is so wickedly competitive at the WNBA level. … And the luxury that she enjoys now from shooting from very far away, that’s gonna be limited.”

Cindy Brunson’s prediction has not aged well. Clark has been so impressive, she has pushed her way into MVP talks. And the point about being limited from shooting far? The Indiana Fever said Clark is shooting from 28.11 feet, farther from Steph Curry’s long-range shots on average in the NBA