It's the middle of Caitlin Clark's second season in the WNBA, and the league is doing an impressive job trying to negate the impact of one of the sport's most prominent stars.
Clark's name value is almost a hindrance to her standing within the W, as she's a constant recipient of overly physical play and bizarre personal jabs.
Recently, her peers ranked Clark eighth among guards in All-Star voting, and a few analysts suggested that the Indiana Fever is a better team with the 23-year-old on the sidelines.
One prominent Clark supporter suggested that this excessive negativity directed at the young phenom could've been prevented.
While appearing on CNN, author Christine Brennan bashed the WNBA brass for failing to adjust to life with Clark.
"The notion that the WNBA wasn't ready for this and couldn't believe this could happen set in motion so many of the issues and conversations we've had over the jealousy and concern—the cheap shot hits from the other players," Brennan said. "This incredible thing is happening to the WNBA, and the league seems completely unprepared for it and the national scrutiny that was coming because of the arrival of Clark."
Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and the other higher-ups deserve blame for trying to sabotage the influence of a trailblazer of women's athletics.
If the league doesn't start protecting and going out of their way to support Clark, all the recent momentum has a chance to subside.
It also opens up the door for wealthy billionaires to make a rival league, poach Clark, and take all the ratings and attention she brings with them.
The WNBA has to get out of its own way before it botches this golden opportunity at eternal relevance.