Caitlin Clark and three WNBA stars tipped to cause huge revolt and quit league

Caitlin Clark has been tipped to defect from the WNBA and spearhead a new league alongside some of the biggest stars in women’s basketball. Clark has quickly emerged as one of America’s major sporting figures, with her presence in the WNBA driving interest like never before.

She wrapped up her impressive debut campaign for the Indiana Fever by winning Rookie of the Year in a near-unanimous vote. A national panel of sportswriters and sportscasters gave 66 of 67 votes to Clark, with Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese receiving the other.

American sports columnist Jason Whitlock believes Clark would be wise to cash in on her star power by fronting up a new league rivalling the WNBA.

Speaking on his Fearless programme, Whitlock said: “Half the WNBA right now is overseas, playing in some foreign league because they don’t make enough money during the WNBA season.

“They’re already playing in rival leagues. Why not start a rival league? You can have a rival league that operates during the summer or you can have a rival league that starts now, right here in America. I’m gonna tell you who’s going to do this, Saudi Arabia.

“They can see what I can see. Man, there’s a lot of momentum behind Caitlin Clark and women’s basketball. Adam Silver, Cathy Engelbert, the people running the NBA and the WNBA, they are idiots. They don’t know how to maximise this Caitlin Clark gift.”

Whitlock believes several other WNBA stars would jump at the chance to follow Clark to a breakaway league, where they would be able to capitalise on the new wave of interest in women’s basketball.

“I don’t know fully where Caitlin Clark stands, she may be a closeted feminist but I know money talks,” he added.

“I think Angel Reese, all she cares about is money and attention, she’ll jump on board. Juju Watkins, she’ll jump on board. Paige Bueckers, I think she would jump on board.”

Clark will not be involved in any off-season tournaments despite some of her fellow players signing up to the Unrivalled League. Reese is the biggest name on the entry list with Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier and Brittney Griner among the other stars involved.

Unlike many of her peers, Clark will now have time to rest and recover from playing the lead role in an unprecedented year for women’s basketball.