Just wanted to say, thank you so much for providing fair and neutral commentary on WNBA discourse this whole season! You are one of the only channels that gives respectful discourse on each team while not alienating new or old fans.
A. The racist filthy media, WNBA and ESPN ladies have had goals from the start. One (1) was to not give Caitlin the MVP Nor The ROTY award and succeeded in one since they had promised Aja the MVP EVEN BEFORE The season started. 2. To have The Fever and Caitlin lose as many games as possible and as was obvious to lose in the playoffs (The Fever WOULD HAVE WON that series but for the WNBA's filthy tactics). 3. Losing the Playoffs meant they knew had the Fever won they may just win the whole thing and they could not allow Caitlin to become maybe the Biggest Athlete the world has ever seen, surely the biggest female ever. 4. As suggested above, the WNBA players have easily damaged Caitlins greatness--she would have been even greater if not for the physical and mental abuse that has been allowed by the WNB (and NBA since they pay the WNBA). Those were their goals. Moving on, (B) nothing was done against RACISM when C Carter shoved Caitlin down and calling her a "White B#$%@#" but the WNBA states they 'wont tolerate hate or racism...'? They have beaten Caitlin Clark up, both physically and mentally and they expect the masses to just go along with it?!!! THAT IS WHY there is much unrest within CC's fans, because the WNBA and the racist media turn a blind eye to the abuse the THE White girl who has actually helped this filthy league rise. If the abuse on Caitlin was not tolerated by the WNBA/Refs, nor by the heads of ESPN, Disney, ABC and others, all things would have very much more peaceful and neutral presently. C. The WNBA players claiming Fever fans are the ones who are too abusive. These uneducated ladies can't read nor can't see nor are reason and logic their forte. The hate towards Caitlin is MUCH greater and has been for a long time which is why Caitlin/Fever fans need to stand up for her and what is right and sound because she wont. D. It is these WNBA players, the ones hating Caitlin and her awesomeness, who have made all of this a Black and White issue while at the same time they indirectly piss on Asians and Latinos for totally ignoring them in just about every branch of entertainment. They cry out racism yet they too dish it out towards every other race, ethnicity and background. REMEMBER, there are many Asians and Latinos who also enjoy Caitlin Clark and want her to play over seas, so are they racist, too, not to mention there are many Blacks who also support Caitlin?
The W missed the mark when they did not choose to expand viewership by expanding on the spotlight. Yes, you strike while the iron is hot but they chose not to highlight the other super rookies that came into the league. CC proved her worth, she is better than the average and will be a force to reckon with. This has been one of the best rookie classes and they did not give us enough of them.
Watching Angel brick layups all season is not entertaining. No other rookie has the IT factor . It's like you guys act like CC is just above average. No. She's the MJ of woman's basketball. She's head and shoulders better in her first season than anyone not named Aja and when CC add 5 -10 pounds of muscle like MJ did she will continue to be the #1 draw. The league messed up by not promoting CC properly and given her the rare once every 30 years treatment of a player that doesn't come around again in the next few decades
Good theory, but that would be like focusing on Sam Bowie when Michael Jordan was a rookie (which they tried and was a fail). Players have to earn their legend - in college is best (and not at corrupt monopoly or city schools that repel greater fanbases). What would have helped is the league instilling civilized foul regulations and tamping out the bullying attempts towards Clark both on the court and on the social webs. - Instead they let the bullies have free reign. Now the public hates the WNBA more than ever.
@@starbucksgirl6715 No I think we all need to not watch again until next season And we shouldn't watch any teams who speak out about how much they hate fans or even Caitlin if it wasn't about the sport. We need to send a message to the League and to the W... Next season can NOT be like this season The Refs The players and teams attacking fans... If they want to go after trolls etc they can I suppose... But stop talking about it! Stop allowing your paid professionals to diss me or whoever else watches And most of all... Fair games no matter who is playing and some safety rules changes like the NBA have would be nice This whole we're a rough league thing is silly Nails are silly I'm not asking anyone to boycott the league I am only saying... Right now is an important moment and we probably won't have a moment like this again... Yo send this message Us fans are not happy and this stuff can NOT repeat next season
The NBA didn’t focus on CC she was her own advertisement. They did try to push recognition on anyone else but her. It’s a toxic league that doesn’t care about putting out a good product and make money. They just want to be given money
Caitlin Clark has the “it factor” like other great athletes like Tiger Woods and Wayne Gretzky. The majority of WNBA fans are men and men like the fast paced style and masterful passing of Caitlin Clark particularly her behind the back passes, no look passes and her bizarre ability to find the open player while being mobbed by defenders and her near court long passes to open players. No woman has ever combined all these attributes and she ironically is known most for her logo three point throws. She is also better than most men and women at free throws which she almost never misses. Lots of prettier and very talented white girls have come and gone in the WNBA and did not move the needle at all. Men and women saw her play and they could not stop watching her. She is a phenom and is incredibly charming and articulate in interviews and has a girlish quality and quirky sense of humour. She has that “it factor.” That is why she is popular and not easily replaceable.
You have a great analysis of Caitlin's impact, just like Jordan, just like Wayne Gretzky, just like magic and Jeff Gordon from NASCAR, and Lebron, Caitlin is all the things that you say, but I slightly disagree with your mention of a girlish quality, I think she has a very ladylike quality to her in interviews She doesn't flaunt herself or act like a generation z-er, She's business like and dry and almost wooden (Speaks rather quickly, straight to the point) in her remarks to the press after the game, so I think the fact that she isn't some model quality attractive gal, but she's very girl next door and acts above her age in her dealings with the press and co players, That deftly helps in her overall image
I agree. That's what some analysts are missing. Women are not following the WNBA, men are. And the majority of men like fast paced, great offensive players. The WNBA is not about that, vastly so. Viewership will go down. On top of this: the way CC was treated, the number of fouls not called in favor of the Fever sends a big message, one of corruption.
I genuinely hope so. I am a new fan to the WNBA. Sadly, the vicious attacks against CC and Fever fans will probably result in much lower support for rhe rest of season.
It is a very simple question to answer. Make and keep the WNBA family friendly. I have watched Taurasi get lambasted for remarks she made without knowing the time frame in which they were made. Watch the Bird Taurasi show while they were watching Iowa vs SC in 2023. Taurasi said glowing things about Clark. When Taurasi made the "reality is coming" remark, it was after Iowa had beaten UCONN in the Final Four this year, you know, UCONN where Taurasi played. I watched Taurasi talking smack to Clark during a game and Clark said, "I don't give a f*ck" and Kahleah Copper laughed about it while standing next to Clark. And after the game, Clark patted Taurasi in the back, and they gave each other a hug and left it on the court. I watched the last Fever vs Sparks game, and before it started, I saw players from both teams giving each other hugs and high fives, then played their butts off, then left it on the court afterwards. People do not want to bring their children to games just to see players flagrantly fouling the other team. So, hug each other and give high fives before the game, play your butts off without trying to gauge the opponent's eyes out, then leave it on the courts afterwards. Also, stop running your mouths in the pre and post-game interviews. When it comes to those interviews, be like Caitlin.
@@a1000island When she said "It's obviously not intentional" (eye gouge), I tend to think she's in denial. I can understand the "let it slide" mentality, but it's a costly one in the not-so-long run.
I watched parts of all the quarterfinal games as well as full Fever games. I will likely watch at least parts of semifinal games, as well. I know I don’t have to tell you that there are amazing athletes still playing. I’m a little disappointed that none of the lower seeds upset the upper seeds because I think that would have made things more exciting-I love an underdog.
@@natureredux1957But are these actual fans who’ve shown up at games and said out of bounds things or are these just online trolls who might not even be watching the games? Rightwing trolls probably barely knew the WNBA existed a year ago, but now the league’s on everybody’s radar.
@@ExplorationRandomDestination You really don't know what you are talking about. Trash talking CC fans far outweigh all other WNBA fans. Fact is that you and all the others want to brag about your numbers until we talk about these type of things. CC is RARELY in foul trouble. But she certainly commits far more then her fair share of fouls.
If the game was called fairly and the Fever lost... I would watch other play off games... but watching refs do a bad job is frustrating and takes the meaning out of competition. There is no point in watching refs pick a winner. Also, its disappointing to see elite athletes repeatedly miss lay ups. They will get more fans by officiating fairly and the athletes improve their dynamic skills, so they can play a game people really want to watch.
Putting rules on not allowing cheap and dirty fouls on players , they need referees that are professionals . Fever fans are disappointed by the way Caitlin Clark was harassed all season and the. WNBA encouraged that by not calling that and let it continue . The referees threw that game 2 by being blinded to all the obvious dirty fouls Caitlin , and her team received.
They ignore when Caitlin Clark is abused and discriminated but make noise when it's the other way around, nvm the fact that CC has received the most even from these other certain unprofessional wnba players😂 The Wnba is rubbish, of course, we been hoping CC quit this crap but we know she ain't a quitter we'll keep supporting her through it all😂
Many CC fans like her entertaining style of play and her high level of professionalism and positive attitude. These fans will he attracted to other players with similar characteristics.
You dont even know or even want to know about other athletes. You operate in a system that focuses on one athlete. I love the sport so I value the players on all teams. cc fans are like they are in some cult where only one person gets worshipped and everyone else is invisible. Gives off creepy vibes. Just my thoughts.
When you look at Twitter poeple are saying they will not watch until next season. Why would they? The are being blamed on every negative thing. Players, Old players, W gatekeepers, its like they want new fans to undergo an initiation 1st before being a W fan. It is not Caitlin's fault she is liked by millions around the world. Fans like myself can now go back to NBA socials debating basketball and not race, superiority, tenure.
".......it's like they want new fans to undergo an initiation 1st before being a W fan." What other pro sports league operation other than the "W" has ever made the slightest "silent" inferences where any new fans have to undergo some imagined initiation to be admitted to watch their games, in fact every other major and minor pro sports leagues, the "W" excluded, only want to have people with or without families go out to see their games played, no other requirements needed(lol)!!!
There are probably some Fever fans who just love basketball, they may continue to watch the games if only to see Connecticut lose . But there are lots of viewers who will not watch the games after the terrible officiating that has been very common in the WNBA . The league has made it clear they don't want us " new fans" , or they would have protected the players better instead of allowing the multiple assaults and hard fouls with no calls .
I have been a women’s college basketball fan since the 1970’s. On occasional years I have watched WNBA games. In order to grow the W, the league needs to change with or without CC. Watching the women maul each other in half court sets is not entertaining to the general sports public. The older players may be proud of their grown woman rough league, but basketball fans want to see basketball. If it were soccer, so many players would deserve red cards for dangerous play. The open, fast style of play is simply more entertaining. Next, the refereeing in the WNBA is horrendous. The calls are so inconsistent. On one play, a ticky-tack or phantom foul is called. On the next play, a flagrant foul is a no call. Next, some players, commentators, social media commenters have painted whole groups of “new” fans as uninformed, soft, or racist. Unfortunately, when a population grows, a small percent will be trolls or haters. The players need help managing their social media accounts. Turn off the comments. Don’t look at the comments. Next, the players and coaches need to have media training. Some do not know how to answer questions. Some have been very unprofessional at press conferences. To jealous players and formal players, the market decides who is marketable. The most marketable athletes need exposure, but they also need to be great at their jobs and likable to the public. There are diverse major examples: Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Serena Williams, Simone Biles, Michael Phelps.
You forgot Magic Johnson, I remember when he came in the NBA, great passer, scorer and personality. That all applies to CC too. Hoops was fun with Magic and it's fun with CC, that's my 2 cents.
I, too, have been watching WBB since the '70s. I agree with a lot of your points (the rough play, officiating, media training needed). You're right that "the market decides who is marketable" but people/fans shouldn't be upset that some WNBA players rightly point out that there are racial elements to "marketability"--particularly for women--and that's unfortunate. For a long time, Serena Williams wasn't considered to be marketable while the Sharapovas of the world always were. And though Serena is "likable to the public" there was certainly a segment of tennis fans (some lkely not really tennis fans) who made very ugly racist and sexist comments about her.
People blame CC. No. Blame the refs who were atrocious league wide but especially against CC. Blame players who keep saying CC fans are xyz. You ever hear MJ,Kobe, Lebron , Melo, Dominique,etc call out another player fans??? Blame the 5 missed wide open layups a game by women who we been ignoring and telling to lower the rim forever ,Blame the horrible basketball... I love ball. Been supportive of rhe WNBA and ignored all the trash legit since it's inception ..go to Liberty games at least 3 per year since around 2010.. watched rhe first 4 seasons. .. finally a girl come along who look like a actual true baller and all she gets is hate which forced me to only root for her amd the Fever . I dont even like the Liberty any more tho I went to two games still..CC is playing ball.. the rest of the league messed up the opportunity to convert casual fans and I'm hardly a casual fan so for a sports fanatic to say I'm good tells you alot about the product... being told rebounds was more important than assists.. being gaslit by WOMEN ESPN media just turned most of us off as if we weren't watching only Fever games.
They needed those rebounds...lol. CC lost. We are lost. These ppl follow Clark due to the drama from Reese. Point blank. It will be over, she endorsed Kamala Harris and the fans has turned on her. Her cult is tearing her apart. It was never about the game.@@randyholston5415
Take a player coming into the league after blowing up everybodys record in college and she is a generational talent with generational wealth before she ever takes her first shot yes there is a lot of jealousy that was waiting on her and then she goes and smashes dozens off records in the W her ffirst year not too many women able to deal with that oh and i lefft out the millions of fans support group. It really bothered auriema and i dont think he is a woman
@@randyholston5415 Okay, show me ONE game where defense and rebounding were high, but they scored less points and they won? 😂 I can show you games with horrible defense & rebounding, but where they put on more points and won the game.
@@GreatlinClarkFan-c5h "win championships" my dude, yes you can win regular season games by outscoring your problems but not in the playoffs. I'm a huge CC fan and think after all is said and done she'll have her name right with Maya Moore in the GOAT convo but she won't win championships until she gets better defensively and calms down the turnovers
Your question, on how the WNBA sustain the viewership, now that CC and the Fever is out, it has been the question of WNBA for 28 years. People are just watching because of CC, and WNBA should embrace the reality. CC is the free promotion, but, what WNBA did? They discredit the CC following, disrespected the Fever fans and accused of racism, hate, and most of the players do not want and need the Fever fans.
Here’s the deal. There ARE Clark fans who are racist homophobes. I’ve seen them myself in TH-cam comment sections and they’re gross. At the same time there are obviously a helluva lot of Clark fans like you and me that don’t stand for that crap. It IS a problem but we as the Clark fans who don’t stand for that shot need to shut them down and also stand up for all of Fever’s opponents. It is also true that Clark got between 18 and 20 % of flagrant fouls in the entire league, that is a problem but you also need to recognize that there’s aggressive behavior when the Fever isn’t playing. We have to quit bitching and moaning and lead by example. Show them that real Fever fans are cool and respect everyone. We won’t stand for the threats on anyone.
Reality is that probably 99 % of Ordinary Americans had not heard of the WNBA or any of its players …..then CC appeared and suddenly their was a truly Great Player who was also a Team player / builder , modest , honest , respectful , sharing praise with her Team mates , never bad mouthing other players ( even after they had been awful to her ) , non racist , straight ……and Ordinary People loved that image she presented and wanted to watch WNBA games ..BUT many of the other WNBA players were openly hateful and jealous ( and not such great players themselves ) and the New Fans saw it and don’t like it and may just not bother watching anymore WNBA games , not just the Fevers , but a huge number of the New Fans are really CC fans and will turn away now
The answer is simple and you said it. Personalities . After the Fever Sun game which was a great game, You don't take your hard to get media time and Air your grievances. The internet is Ugly Especially X . Stay off it . Funny I just watched the Prime Series Black Quarterbacks and what the early guys had to go through .Complaining wasn't one of them. They make it hard to be likeable . If they are not saying something to build the League then they are saying the wrong thing. Become likeable it isn't that hard
Why do people like to watch Caitlin Clark? Because the style of basketball she plays. A lot of the new fans come from watching the men's game. Faster flashier shot selection and passing without making as many 'idiot' plays like blown layups. She does need to work on ball handling against quicker high twitch players. Also, believe it or not, CC feels like an underdog going up against bigger players who play "physical" against her or take cheap shots. People inherently don't like bullies. They do like underdogs who can get wins. Lastly but maybe most importantly Caitlin never plays the victim. She goes off the handle on the court questioning calls by the refs but never on social media or in press conferences. Most normal people tend to be uncomfortable around a person with a victim mentality (unless they also have victim mentality I guess). If the WNBA's best players were more like CC, they would get big followings from new fans. Advertisers and corporate sponsors would be calling them up to sign them.
i might have watched some of the other games, but after the league behavior, i have a bad feeling in my stomach about it. for the clueless wnba leadership, here is the Cliff Notes for you: 1) we want to watch kind professionals demonstrating their skills. we have no interest in watching assholes mistreat other women 2) we want clean officiating and fairness there, 3) we want obvious violence dealt with swiftly and strongly. 4) we want to W to communicate these policies
Call out the league's behavior!! Make it known!! That should begin with the League's front office. Call out all the league has done wrong. Notice my words, the league not its players. You probably won't have an answer, but that's fine too.
Interaction between WNBA players seems different: pre game dancing, performance on social media: than NBA, Is this difference appealing to "fan base"? Seems like goal is getting "attention" ? But that may just be the 'way' in 2024??
As a newly minted fan of CC and Co,I felt insulted by the Refs and the WNBA. The way the Fever was treated is beyond disgusting,give us ONE reason why we should watch another minute of the rest of the playoffs. Why would as Indiana fans support this garbage,since the comments by other teams that we’re all a bunch of Racists. I’m a sports fan not a racist.
@magicman8817 If you're not a racist then you should be secure enough in yourself to not let that get to you. If you're a sports, then there's plenty of reasons to keep watching. NY vs. Vegas is going to be a great series, and both offense and defense. The 2 best players in the league are gonna go at it, NY, looking for revenge. Vegas looking to 3-peat. MIN vs. CON is going to be a defensive battle. The 2 best defenses in the W. Not to mention the awesome playoffs Napheesa Collier has had so far. The best coaches in the league are all here, so the chess match is gonna be cool to see. The refs are terrible for every team. Like the players, I try not to let them ruin the actual play on the court.
They ignore when Caitlin Clark is abused and discriminated but make noise when it's the other way around, nvm the fact that CC has received the most even from these other certain unprofessional wnba players😂 The Wnba is rubbish, of course, we been hoping CC quit this crap but we know she ain't a quitter we'll keep supporting her through it all😂
@@CapLivesI am not racist, far from but I am tired of being called the f’n KKK, maga, racist and all the other bs. Nothing to do with security and everything to do with my peace. It is not enjoyable. Every press conference at this point is bashing us. No thanks
@@CapLivesit’s not about security, it’s about peace. People are tired of being bashed on for simply liking a player and team. Instead of saying “fever fans” these players need to learn how to stop alienating groups. Say trolls, say some fever fans, say some fans around the league…. nope. Broadstroke brush and people are done with it.
Future: 1. Decrease the violent play like the NBA did, 2. Get better refs, train them better, direct refs to cut down on the violent and rough play, consistently make calls and throw players out for deliberate, dangerous play, 3. Draft players for an open, fast style of play, 3. Give the general public the style of play they want to see and consistently make lay ups, 4. Stop insulting the “new” fans like they are all bad apples, 5. Give the players, coaches, and some in the media social media and media training, 5. Educate the players about finances, how the economy works, and marketing.
I'm still watching the WNBA playoffs and will be enjoying it because I love women's basketball 🏀 the whole world is not going to stop because of one person.
I think the first thing is they have to stop painting all CC fans or Fever fans as racist. I think it's reckless and it makes it hard to continue to support anyone, as no one likes to be insulted just for liking a team or a person. There is nothing wrong with calling out trolls and anyone making death threats is unacceptable. But painting them all as CC fans is just not being fair and you're making it hard for new fans.
I've noticed the difference in both. For ex: Fever Fans we're fans before CC and will be after CC. They absolutely love CC but they ALSO value the rest of the team save for a few they want traded. CC fans are pure CCfans only. And that's fine. It's the ones trolling under a Clark or Reese flag that's the problem. Imo anyways.
Not exactly true. A Hawkeye fan who grew to be a fan of the rookies from watching them play against Iowa. Watched their games and progress too. Became fan of several teams. It’s unfortunate that people lump fans into groups. I just wish a lot of this peripheral drama would stop.
It's not being painted that way. Those people are doing all of those things under her name. As we see, the fans aren't making it up. So, if you see something wrong, you should call it out. I don't allow something wrong to be said and it implies I feel that way. I call it out. So, stop making this seem as if none of this is true. Stop it...that's a part of the problem. Acknowledge that something is going on and address it. Pretending nothing is happening is dated.
@@19birdgang33swoop No CC fans are not CCfans only. That's not true. CC only Stans are. There's a difference between those that like CC and even came to the W because of CC but appreciate great basketball players vs. those that only care for CC that can be considered a CC fan. And trolls are trolls. Social media should be close to irrelevant in professional sports.
A. The racist filthy media, WNBA and ESPN ladies have had goals from the start. One (1) was to not give Caitlin the MVP Nor The ROTY award and succeeded in one since they had promised Aja the MVP EVEN BEFORE The season started. 2. To have The Fever and Caitlin lose as many games as possible and as was obvious to lose in the playoffs (The Fever WOULD HAVE WON that series but for the WNBA's filthy tactics). 3. Losing the Playoffs meant they knew had the Fever won they may just win the whole thing and they could not allow Caitlin to become maybe the Biggest Athlete the world has ever seen, surely the biggest female ever. 4. As suggested above, the WNBA players have easily damaged Caitlins greatness--she would have been even greater if not for the physical and mental abuse that has been allowed by the WNB (and NBA since they pay the WNBA). Those were their goals. Moving on, (B) nothing was done against RACISM when C Carter shoved Caitlin down and calling her a "White B#$%@#" but the WNBA states they 'wont tolerate hate or racism...'? They have beaten Caitlin Clark up, both physically and mentally and they expect the masses to just go along with it?!!! THAT IS WHY there is much unrest within CC's fans, because the WNBA and the racist media turn a blind eye to the abuse the THE White girl who has actually helped this filthy league rise. If the abuse on Caitlin was not tolerated by the WNBA/Refs, nor by the heads of ESPN, Disney, ABC and others, all things would have very much more peaceful and neutral presently. C. The WNBA players claiming Fever fans are the ones who are too abusive. These uneducated ladies can't read nor can't see nor are reason and logic their forte. The hate towards Caitlin is MUCH greater and has been for a long time which is why Caitlin/Fever fans need to stand up for her and what is right and sound because she wont. D. It is these WNBA players, the ones hating Caitlin and her awesomeness, who have made all of this a Black and White issue while at the same time they indirectly piss on Asians and Latinos for totally ignoring them in just about every branch of entertainment. They cry out racism yet they too dish it out towards every other race, ethnicity and background. REMEMBER, there are many Asians and Latinos who also enjoy Caitlin Clark and want her to play over seas, so are they racist, too, not to mention there are many Blacks who also support Caitlin?
No. The league will have less attendance and viewership. Sort out the mess, the refs and the catfights. Penalize and censure the jealous thugs like Crazy Carter, Mustard Carrington and Jabba the Hutt Swoopes.
They ignore when Caitlin Clark is abused and discriminated but make noise when it's the other way around, nvm the fact that CC has received the most even from these other certain unprofessional wnba players😂 The Wnba is rubbish, of course, we been hoping CC quit this crap but we know she ain't a quitter we'll keep supporting her through it all😂
Jabba the Hutt is only going to get bigger. she double fists Wendys Baconators and screams into the empty bag every time she hears anything positive about Caitlin.
654,000 tv viewers for the Sun/Lynx playoff game is awful, terrible. Attendance of just 8,500 for the Sun/Lynx playoff game is awful, terrible. Nearly 5,000 unsold seats at the Aces/Liberty playoff game is awful, terrible. Discussion is over, league is dead without Caitlin.
I appreciate your style. I'm a sub now. Die hard CC fan. But I have learned a lot about the WNBA this year. There's a ton of talent in this league. ❤❤. I hope they can rise above the noise. Thanks for your incite to
They won't keep them because these people only care about Caitlin. People in here talking about "we'd give the other players a chance if they didn't hate CC" cap, Arike and Satou have shown love to CC, and they didn't get that love back. Unfortunately, the actual hoops that will be on display in round 2 won't matter because it never did. The Lynx play awesome basketball, and they don't move the needle. I'll be watching the 2nd round because I'm an Aces fan, but I also think Sun v. Lynx will be incredible.
I will be waiting as well! The Liberty against the Aces will be a great matchup! I love Collier's game. So many great players other than Clark! True fans of Basketball know this.
@@kobiianardo Same here. Mabrey deserved better. They Suns had to give up 2 first round draft pics (2025/2026) for her + 2 players. They showed Marina real love and she's repaying them back with her game.
Also, the league needs to address security, both during games and when teams are on the road. Players should never be worried they’re going to be confronted by people with a beef during a game or traveling. Players should also be offered some general safety training/social media training. The two are connected.
The WNBA’s players could stop repeatedly declaring that a huge portion of their fan base, particularly new/CC/Fever are all racists, “nasty”, etc. A great starting point would be not assigning damning labels to a huge group of the league’s supporters because of bad actors on social media.
8:23 All sports deal with lower viewership when a superstar isn't in the playoffs (NBA, MLB, NCAA basketball, football, even gymnastics).. it's just the nature of fans, not sure it can be solved 🤷🏽♀️
It would be interesting to see how much the Fever-Sun lead-in game did for the Mercury-Lynx viewership. Only ESPN and Nielsen know but when did the 2.1 million peak number for the Mercury-Lynx happen? If the peak occurred during the early part of the game, then the 1.2 million/2.1 million peak numbers overstate actual draw of the Mercury-Lynx matchup.
As for playoffs The WNBA says I told you so, it is the other players, not Clark and does the WNBA believe that they will get these numbers without Clark. Over eight games, the first round averaged 1.1 million viewers, or 8.8 million views, making it the most-viewed opening round ever across all networks. Now back out the two Fever & Sun Games, Game Two 2.5 million which peaked at 3.4 million & Game One at 1.84 on NFL Sunday; or 4.34 million views The other six teams drew 4.46 million views or 743,000 on average, compared to the average of 2,170,000 for each of the two Fever games, or Clark almost drew as many views as the other 6 teams over their six games. The WNBA games on Sunday vs The NFL, 1) Storm vs Aces had 461,000 viewers, 2) Liberty vs Dream 410,000, 3) Mercury vs Lynx 403,000 4) Fever vs Sun 1,840,000 views, From 2020 to 2023 the league grew by an average of 85,666 more TV views, Clark in just one year grew the league by 858,000 or grew the league the equivalent of 10 years in one year. WNBA TV ratings; 2024: 1,320,000 average viewers, 858,000 / 2023; 2023: 462,000 average viewers, 90,000 / 2022; 2022: 372,000 average. Viewers, 66,000 / 2021, 2021: 306,000 avg. Viewers, 101,000 / 2020, 2020: 205,000 avg. Viewers
I'm a huge Basketball fan, MJ was it for me, than this young Lady comes along, and has me a fan of hers, and she went thru the same jealousy and hate by other players, but Clark had it worst with has beens diminishing her great achievements, I to will not watch the rest of the playoffs, just like I didn't watch 1 Olympic game, and I'm sure they don't care, but in my defense, I was the same way when MJ kept getting knocked out by Detroit
If you look at the fanbase for the Fever it is family oriented. WNBA has to clean up the roller derby rugby style players. Like it or not do you want to keep the fans. No parent wants their children going to school and repeat what they heard or saw at the game.
They would have to get a head of official that could get refs that are trained and qualified to get people to watch. Every game landing zone, shoulders and above contact, break away fouls, are different. Reviews take a way too long. Also a team shouldn’t have to use give reviews due to the refs being awful. Game 1 the ref mistaking Hull for Boston u would explain away but in game 2 mistaking Hull for Mitchell is when I really start thinking they got them from middle school league. I don’t watch a lot wnba games because of refs. They are bad as a whole. NCAA and nba refs are a lot more consistent on rules. The only thing I found consistency in is the aces will get 60% of the calls
Catlin fans ostracized her by harassing other players. I’m not a fever fan(doesn’t mean I don’t like CC) but watching her fans from the outside trash talk other players and teams was crazy. You love your fav player and not have to bully others.
@lalat5899 How do you know their caitlin fans? How do you know they aren't trolls? Quit acting like the internet changed as soon as caitlin got into the wnba. Major sports figures have been dealing with this forever. Men get yelled nasty things at baseball and football games. They boo you if you play horribly. But you're always going to have trolls getting under people's skin. It's just kinda funny that when Evans and Harrison come out about the abuse they took from sky fans, I hardly see anyone talk about it except Quita. You got not a single peep from the mainstream media. If you don't like what people are saying on the internet then don't look at it or get rid of twitter. The more you give trolls a reaction the more they're going to say outrageous stuff. Pretty simple stuff, but I'm pretty sure you know this already
From the exit interview of CC: WNBA, all WNBA players, and ESPN, you have your marching orders: Address the trolls, not the fans. Do not alienate your new and old fans. Protect players and fans from trolls, race baiting, and woke media
The second game of the WNBA playoff series between the Indiana Fever and Connecticut Sun set a record as the most-watched WNBA game ever on cable. It drew an impressive 2.5 million viewers on ESPN, with viewership peaking at 3.4 million. I am excited for the next season.
I’m sure y’all would just prefer nothing was said at all. The players being harassed and threatened should just suck it up. It doesn’t matter unless it’s happening to Clark.
@@leiannb.wrytes8893 you are all delusional if you think it's gonna stop by them calling them out. They've talked already about it and it hasn't stopped 🙄 SO STOP FEEDING THE TROLLS. Especially the media needs to stop and the players need to learn how to handle the trolls. Unfortunately, people are gonna talk and haters are gonna hate. CC has personal security, has people filtering her email and doesn't use social media for a reason 🙄 u all want an utopia 🤡
@@leiannb.wrytes8893 Threatened and harassed where? Please go listen to Wheeler and Mitchell's interviews. Social media has to be put into a healthy perspective. It's toxic. Don't go there and expect anything healthy. If you want to talk sports, the WNBA should set up moderated forums people can go to. And as for threats, Clark gets a ton threats and ugly email. She just doesn't publicize it. We saw her get harassed in the 2nd game to the point a fan in the stand had to get tossed out. Stuff like this happens in sports.
All they have to do to get ppl to like the W more is: 1- promote the best players equally. 2- put Clark games later so that ppl will have to stay for her. 3- create narratives that’s are centered on unity and the game. it’s not hard.
people like who they like. promoting the best players equally would only matter if people cared about them which ratings have proven they don't. that's not how sports fandom works.
All of these things you share wouldn't get me to watch or like the W more. For me the WNBA needs to do a lot more, and sadly it won't happen any time soon 1. Crying on social media, victim card, race bating - needs to be gone (AR playing victim card, claiming people stalk her all the time (no police reports, so likely fake claims) 2. New commissioner - Cathy has been silent on all the hate CC gets and only believes that the negative drama around CC helps their ratings. 3. Long finger nails ban, your playing basketball not going on a date. How do long finger nails help you in the game? (aside from taking peoples eyes out) 4. Corrupt refs need to go. Example: the ref that gave CC a tech for smacking the padding was the same REF that didn't not tech DT a few games later for smacking the same padding CC hit. #1 is possible but would take a season or 2 to clean up ( Cathy has to implement rules to deter this behavior ) #2 I dunno what Cathy contract is like, I have wanted NBA Adam Silver gone awhile and we still have him for another 10 years maybe more. So this likely won't happen anytime soon. #3 Seems like an easy rule change but that falls on Cathy again..... so not likely anytime soon. #4 Corrupt officials are found across all leagues, world-wide. As long as you can bet on sports you will have corrupt refs. You can solve this by holding terrible refs accountable (like in baseball the best umpires of the season get to umpire the biggest games of the season come playoff time, while the bad umps are sitting at home) but at the end of the day the ref will be like "I didn't see the play like that", "I was looking at something else on that play" etc. Refs are also in a union, and can not be FIRED because they made an incorrect call. This is why baseball umpires that miss the strike zone by 12+ inches, are still behind the plate calling strikes 12 inches off the plate.
I think viewers will be affected. I don't know why some fans and WNBA players hate Clark and even the W itself I saw her exit interview. She's so compassinate. Her words are no hates or negativity. Fever looks bright next szn. Rest of playoff games not exciting anymore. Only loyal fans of remaining teams will watch.
Quita. More fans love CC because she's humble. She has never said a bad word towards any player. She's spectacular and most importantly she doesn't come to press conf and whine and cry like other players. She's not a me me me person. Plus she doesn't play the race card like these other whiners out there. This is why she gets the ratings and breaks attendance records. Players like Alyssa and Angel come on here and cry about race and social media. Just stfu play ball and stay off social media. Very simple.
Well said. Hope these players take note now that all these eyes are on league lot more players will get credit they much deserve like Rakia Jackson, Collier, McBride, Arike, Carleton,Engstler, Cloud, Cunningham, Fiebich, Gray…list goes on. No one likes drama and dirty plays, it’s basketball not reality show. Win or loose players and coaches need to be respectful stop playing victim card it’s exhausting.
😂😂😂what a load of rubbish. Let's be humble during Interviews. But let's throw temper tantrums on the court and be one of the league leaders in techs. Stop it😂😂😂
@@spooked7772Yall need to make up your mind. One day she is the league leader in techs. Next day she gets a special whistle and gets ticky tak foul calls. Yall just say whatever to fit your argument. Also that tells me you don't watch the games because she gets techs called on her that another player DT doesn't get called on her for the exact same thing amd it was the exact same ref. If it's a rule then it's a rule but call them equally. All that stuff you named had nothing to do with being humble. Showing emotion on the court and wanting a foul to be called after you get mauled and getting techs has nothing to do with being humble. But show me an interview where she isn't being humble and saying something bad about a player/person. I'll wait!
@@zainehuckaby4367 😂😂 You have a bias fanatical outlook. She pushes off way to much for that not be called an offensive foul. She flops arguing to try to get a call. Slaps other opponents In their faces when she's dribbling trying to creat space with her off hand.Talk junk to opponents and the reffs and you have the nerve to say she's being mauled??? Stop it. Humility doesn't have an "on and off" switch. You either are or not. You people will literally make excuses for her and project the those things on to the whole league. 🙄 stop it
Truth! Certain fans only want to watch one player. This a league that hundreds of players and 12 teams. Certain fans want pout, cry, and protest when “one” fan is fouled. Ask these same fans to name the last 10 players with fouls and flagrant fouls, they are deers all in the headlight. These same are angry if you live in Chicago, Atlanta, Connecticut. Las Vegas, , Minnesota, Washington, LA, NewYork, Dallas and Phoenix and want to support your home team
Wanna watch CC, sure -- also wanna watch KC playing with CC..... she's on fire with CC, but without her, no one there to respond. Same with the whole team. CC was the missing link.
I heard all the talk about Caitlin this year when I heard about her breaking records. I saw a few highlights. I taped a game in the NCAA tournament watched it and became a Caitlin fan. In order to watch her play I have to watch her in the W. I have become a Fever fan. But let me be clear. I do not have to be a W fan. It is on the W to put out a product that makes me want to be a W fan. They have not done that at all. College bb is a better game. It is most assuredly better officiated. I do not want to watch prison ball. And I do not have to bow down and kiss the ring of anyone playing in the W now or before. If I took my kid to a baseball game and he becomes a fan of a player or team I am not going to tell him he has to give credit to Babe Ruth or Hank Aaron. I am going to let him be a fan of the player and team he likes in the present. Old fans and media do not get to tell me what and who I have to be a fan of. I can decide for myself. I have watched many press conferences pre/post game. I have never heard Caitlin disrespect anyone. She gives respect to her teamates, her opponents, the league and past players. She is the consummate professional. And she is 22 years old. There are players on other teams that I like and appreciate their games. And there are players that have no chance of making me a fan. It is not hard to figure that out. If you blame an entire fanbase for the actions of trolls or crazy people you have lost me. Caitlin has had a bodyguard for a while now. I wonder why that came to be? I imagine what she has had to deal with is intense. But she is all about basketball. For all the old W fans if you are happy with the league great! I am far from it. I want to see a cleaner less physical game. I want to see competent and fair officiating. I want to see players be more professional. I want to not feel compelled to pray for Caitlin's safety before her games. The refs have made it clear she is an open target. So I will not watch the W till Caitlin and the Fever play again. I can only hope that changes are made in the league to address the shortcomings.
Long time basketball fan. Watched the W this year because I followed CCs' historic college season and then to the W. I've grown to be a fan of other players and probably would've watched the rest of the playoffs. Not now after the trashing of a whole fan base, CC, and a reporter. Unprofessional top to bottom.
Quita..im glad to have found you via my searches for Caitlin Clark algorithm. I sincerely see that you are a true wnba fan and I love that about you. And on top of that I think you said that you’re Christian. May our lord keep blessing you with subs and may he grant you your hearts desire of being a sports announcer. This league has definitely made me sour over womans basketball. I might just keep watching college if it starts swinging the same way I will also turn it off. In this environment of Marxist/progressive/ communistic ideology that has taken over every sport you will become a target without no reason (because they will make it up about you). Your mom is awesome. 👏🏽🙏🏾👍🏽
They ignore when Caitlin Clark is abused and discriminated but make noise when it's the other way around, nvm the fact that CC has received the most even from these other certain unprofessional wnba players😂 The Wnba is rubbish, of course, we been hoping CC quit this crap but we know she ain't a quitter we'll keep supporting her through it all😂
I have never heard of you or your show, but added to that I’ve never watched the WNBA until this year or this season. I enjoyed it so much that my daughter-in-law and I have never had anything that we could share that we both like to watch until Kaitlyn Clark came on the same every game her and I contacted each other. We texted we phone call, and now listening to your show which I’m doing for the first time now I am so impressed with you your knowledge the way you handle this you don’t lean in any specific direction that I can tell. You just are a good person.
This is not a serious question. The VAST majority of basketball fans do not want to see the highest levels of violence, fouling, and degraded language of any major bball association. - There have been scientifically conducted studies showing the WNBA has the most egregious fouls, injuries, players driven from the league. Basketball fans won't cheer for bullies. Are there any teams without bullies left? Then there's the answer.
Then arent you same fans speaking up for other in the league who are fouled, bullied and have a certain language. Waiting.Also, cc foul other players too. What about them. If you are do passionate, where’s the outrage. Sorry,I refuse to be apart of such cult. Wrong is wrong. To cc fans, wrong is only when it happens to her. Tricks are for kids.
@@stargazer2.3 Clearly you either don't understand what a cult is, or you are just plain disingenuous. If we are going to have dialogue, we can't be bastardizing terms to position our arguments above the others' - Cult, Racism, Coup, Woman. . . Come on now, are we going to be for real or not? Then you try to equate Clark's committed fouls to the wanton violence of other players. That is just sad. - As for standing up for other players, here's how championing causes works. Society upholds an individual's rights, or cases where these rights are aggrieved, and the reckoning process for the individual establishes the same for other individuals in society. The tenor of your question is also disingenuous for, clearly, the fans of a player should be supporting the well-being of that player (including safety). If your concern was for players other than Clark, it would follow for you to ask, "Why haven't the fans of other players been calling for measures to be made for their safety (for decades nonetheless)?" In the end, your passive-aggressive line is a sad addition to a narrative where violence against women has been ignored for years. Fortunately fans of Clark are making a call to change this, for the benefit of all of the women in basketball - despite the unparalleled efforts of an entire hive-mind of people who cry-wolf call ''racism'' at every turn of their obsession with undermining Clark's dominance.
@@stargazer2.3 Of course, a voice for Clark is a voice for all the players. That is how championing works. - Similar to a court case, we find one person who is wronged and identify this wrong, punishing the perpetrator and making it clear that such wrongs aren't accepted towards anyone. What benefits CC benefits all players. Your question is wrongly directed - the real question is, "Where has the protectiveness been, for all of the players for decades, from their fans?"
I will be watching. I'm a WNBA fan. Did same with women's college basketball...watched every tournament. But that's just me. Hoping the best. Glad for great numbers for the W in last playoff session.
@@daz97 we are not hatin. We are just saying that DO NO FORCE me to watch or follow those that i dont like. Good for all the legends and greats but i my time is important and ill be watching netflix instead and fever replays.
@@nr14989 You're not hating bro But the rest of the team's in the playoffs? The Refs included lol All anyone does by watching what is left is telling them... You can do it next season because it never mattered in the end I am not telling him to boycott it I am not even saying he has to do listen lol But I do hope he can see that missing this one, and it probably will only be this one (hopefully) Because the W needs to hear this message at this point We need them to make some changes to how they move forward Anyway bro Take care And whoever keeps watching, no issue man But if this stuff matters to you, maybe think it over ✌️
It was also televised for everyone to watch it. I normally have to try several different channels or get subscriptions to watch a game or that there was a block in the middle of the screen. I was taken a back when I saw it full throttle. If the network would televise all the games like this the viewership would still be up. I agree that Caitlyn brings massive viewers but it’s also up to the WNBA and NBA. They don’t try to promote every team the same. Just do it because people want to watch the other teams. Other teams have fans too. Continuing viewership still affects the teams that aren’t still playing. They are a league of players and teams and it supports their pay their play and their livelihoods. As a fan of the league I would love to see the league continue to make it easier for us to watch the rest of the season. Nothing is given to anyone and every team is going to lose until they get to the championship and they crown a champion. Promote them all and be fair about it WNBA.
@@anthonyw.8103You are literally talking about a boatload of NBA fans who are very knowledgeable in basketball and finally got someone they can watch in the W.
I’m a 72 year old black man from the sundowner south, and I’ve seen this kind of stuff in my own life, from both black and white. While I was attracted by the way Caitlin Clark plays, I am genuinely disgusted by the way she’s been treated. We grew up talking about content of character and now we have this role reversal from sixty years ago. The WNBA seems to be rotten to the core, commissioners referees media and players. People want a sense of fairness. A baby, your dog has a sense of fairness. It’s not there. The way forward is to end the WNBA and move basketball overseas as basketball was for many years only in the United States. We will love Clark playing in Europe as many in the NBA from Europe grew up on Bird Magic Jordan LeBron looking across the pond. The European players are equilibrating as they’ve given the United States a run for their money every Olympics. Character honor integrity sportsmanship. Not found.
@@anthonyw.8103 perhaps you’re confusing black with gay like you. I don’t need to lie. Say I’m a white man whatever. Point is any human being would feel the same way.
The finals and semifinals will be fine as far as viewership. It'll drop a bit, but it's not going to be a drastic dropoff like a certain fanbase wants to believe. The REAL fans will remain and will watch like they've been doing. It's not about to go from millions to thousands just because Caitlyn's not present.
I truly respect your show. It is a rare occurrence these days that a fan from another team other than the Fever has an honest view of what is going on. Fever fans are getting blamed for ALL nasty comments forgetting that trolls exist on social media. Do some Fever fans go to far? Of course they do. So do other fans. Thanks for the levelheaded take….it is a refreshing change. One more thing…I’m not an Angel fan but I do believe she is the best rebounder in the W. No. Hell didn’t just freeze over. A Fever fan just complimented Angel Reese!
Get competent refs and make them call the game fairly and don't allow the intentional fouls. That's a good start, and then ask the players to be respectful, stop playing victim and complement each other- and not be petty. Then, maybe I could watch other games.
First off they need to get refs that will call the game fairly. Stop players from trying to hurt other players on purpose since the refs won’t do their job. For me it’s the refs not calling obvious fouls when they were trying to take out CC. We don’t need refs looking the other way in any sport so childish and ridiculous. You would think the WNBA would protect their moneymaker instead of hurting her.
I think New York/Vegas will have great ratings. Definitely over 1M viewers. Even on ESPN 2. Not as sure about Minnesota/Connecticut. Could be around 500K for that series.
Quita, if this draft was the best draft in 10 years and they were ALL ballers which they are, and only 3 or 4 out of the 12 are given any significant playing time, then NO the W ISNT promoting the young players. Older players are demanding credit and attention which has blockaded the talent and story of the last drafts collective star power , and college fanbase from crossing over to the W -by way of the limited mainstream sports media coverage that the W gets; plus coaches not playing them. These 2 factors combined are choking the Ws present growth capability, which was and could still make an even bigger impact along with the CC n AR push it got.The leagues players and coaches are very selfish. Vets and coaches would rather get that tiny bit of glory than a larger explosion and surge in viewership and new fans. All the vets were supposed to play Robin in the draftess Batman movie and they would've became heroes, it just would've happened in reverse, which is a thing that veteran pride won't allow. If the W wanted growth instead of veteran glory, the explosion wouldve been even bigger than just what CC n AR did.It's unfortunate and true.
Thanks for the update. Please tell the current Wnba players and coaches that to be interested in #22 doesn't mean we don't like the other ones. Plenty of good times ahead for all to share 😊.
Without CC the numbers are going to drop like a stone in water!!! Players, coaches and media Podcasters have been hating on fans all season calling us racist while they repeatedly posted hateful racist post about us and now think we're going to watch!!!😂😂😂 not going to happen!! Viewership is going down to previous levels!!!😂😂😂
I definitely think the league could have handled the influx of new fans much better, in the positive and negative. Vets blaming new fans for everything is a huge turn off, and so is the commissioner basically admitting that feeding vicious/racist fan wars is good for clicks. More fans = more crazy fans, so the league needed to embrace the larger audience with good will while providing players with resources to protect their mental health from online bullying, instead of demanding CC somehow control her fanbase. Reffing and professionalism needs an upgrade too, which I genuinely believe will calm down some of the online chatter. If the refs make the right call RIGHT AWAY, people will have less of a reason to get hysterical. Just my opinion. I appreciate how you keep things thoughtful here, Quita. 💜
WNBA Players I know about... Caitlin Clark The blonde teammate that can also hit 3's The one that poked CC's eye The one called Boston on CC's team A.J. or something I think MVP Um... Caitlin Clark did I say that one?
This world is in serious trouble I swear. So now it’s not about basketball skills it’s about who can bring in The most views??? 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️ what a world we live in.
How about quit calling them names I'm including myself in this group i am a good person you are always going to have few people that just want to cause trouble Caitlin is a good person why do you people think her fans who are attracted to her aren't.
I watch the Fever games to watch them lose period! I will definitely watch round two because those games will be more compelling than any Fever game! As you can tell, I’m not a CC fan and never will be! Bye Fever!
@@Godislove9273 Reese wouldn't have helped enough. Reese, like Clark, lacks experience. There was a big difference in experience between the two teams.
I believe if they clean up, refs need to be professional refs. Play basketball not boxing. Physical is good if it's clean. Instead of treating rookies as if they're joining the military or some college sorority , treat them and embrace them. If you say you're as good as you are then lead by example. I personally believe it just needs a little cleaning up. It shouldn't be political or a race war. 2025 should be only basketball.
I always burst out laughing when any WNBA player, current or ex, media, or league rep starts talking about their ‘pure form’ of ‘professional’ basketball. And how they get all insulted if you think otherwise. I showed my wife the eye poke video and she is NOT a BB fan, has never watched BB and she said it was deliberate and asked if DC was thrown out of the game.
This welfare league and players are not ready to deal with major spotlight. Players crying in the presscon, posting tweets blaming fans like what?! It's not good but it is the reality of this digital world. How do they think popular players from diff sports handle it day by day? I'd say just play better. Don't expect praises when ur playing 💩
Quita The WNBA needs to hire you to do the data/analytics/ consulting... Or hire you to solve that very important question that you brought up how to keep the viewership very high even when Caitlin Clark's not on television when Indiana Fever are out of the playoffs or not on television.
You can't argue they don't want Caitlin in the league. They really were abusive and horrible to her ALL SEASON. Sorry, but it's hard to like a lot of these players. Did you see the video when Mabrey hit the 3 pointer in the 2nd game to seal the win for CT. During the time out you could read her lips, Poke me in the eye to DC. She could have been blinded, and they were both LAUGHING. Sorry I can't watch players like that. And Kennedy Carter knocking her to the ground and Angel clapping !! Come one. How can people watch and like these players.
I'm a new WNBA watcher and it started with the NCAA tournament, actually before that it was the Big Ten games against Ohio State and Indiana, which led me to the Tournament; and the Final Four. I became a huge Clark fan but also a Reese fan and a Cardoso fan as well as Kate Martin and Nika Muhl fan. Anyway, I bought the WNBA Pass immediately after and started watching all the games, (I'm 66 and retired), and now love the WNBA. I remembered Taurasi and Parker and other greats and Stewie but never saw them play. I remembered those days but I was working full time and it was hard to follow the W because the games were hard to find. Besides, as a Syracuse fan I hated UConn- and it seemed like all the women's NCAA teams were terrible except for Tennessee, Louisiana Tech, and UConn, with the occasional Baylor, LSU, or Notre Dame. Anyway, I love the W now and it distresses me that I hear said that Caitlin Clark fans are racist. I love the sport now and I'm a Fever fan until I die, (I do also love the Liberty, as I am a New York guy. Giants, Bills, Sabres, Rangers, Knicks, Yankees and Mets, plus Syracuse and Notre Dame because in the northeast you have to have an alternative to SU in football since the McNabb days.) Anyway, I said all that because I'm here to stay but I wish all the crazy rhetoric would end. Love your Podcast Quita, thanks for it!
I think more media exposure for the other talented players, get them media trained as well, and also cleaning up the officiating and toxicity of the wnba would probably help with retention of fans to stay.
The W needs to clean up their image...This is a sport not a activist cult...Its just ugly...The W needs to get into the current century of entertainment...CC has just laid down a templet of how to achieve this all the W needs to do is follow it...Its not hard to do
9:18. I’m sorry, but there’s no “figuring it out.” Viewership will decline it’s just a question of by how much. They hit 2.5 million with CC and fever. I think they’ll be thrilled with half that without her and it really doesn’t matter what round of playoffs it is.
Noooo!!! I will not watch a bunch of Patty women with negatives behaviors. 😢 I will return when the Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark's team plays again. 😅
I came watching the WNBA because of CC but I also started learning about other players that played against her. I have learned to respect the game and came here with good intentions. I think what is disappointing is that some WNBA players are putting us new fans in the same category as those so called “fans” that are saying the mean comments. They should know that the small group of “fans” are trolls. I also think they should see the positive more, like more viewership, than the negative because they are also feeding into the negativity. If anything it should be about the sport and nothing else.
Thats impressive... even without the Clark games, viewership is still showing significant growth compared to 2023. Numbers *with* Clark are just insane.
Hey Quita, Going Forward For Next Year For All The Older WNBA Players Out There Don’t Be Mad When They Put Caitlin Clark Games On TV Like A Lot Of Players Said When They Put 36 Of Caitlin Clark Games On TV Ie Lexie Brown And Even Cheryl Reeves Saying There Other Teams Out There!!!!! These Number Prove That Viewers Want To See Caitlin Clark And The Attendance Prove That The Public Want To See Caitlin Clark !!!!! So That Being Said That WNBA Players Have To Understand That And If They Want More Money Then This Needs To Happen!!!!
I cannot watch any more this year for three reasons: 1. Sickening on-court violence. I don't not like seeing people hit each other so callously. That eye jab made me afraid to watch ever again. Not a foul? No apology? That's not physicality; that's inhumanity. 2. Players on three of the final four teams have talked shit and made blanket accusations against ALL Fever fans, going out of their way to say I am not welcome. (I hate racism and have never said anything anti-black or anti-gay.) 3. I'm pretty sure Kamala Harris will either attend a game or get shout outs at a game, and as a non-voter, all politics offends me. I am trying hard not to see any of that "use my platform" stuff. I'm just going to play 2k25 where none of those things happens.
Just wanted to say, thank you so much for providing fair and neutral commentary on WNBA discourse this whole season!
You are one of the only channels that gives respectful discourse on each team while not alienating new or old fans.
It is very impressive that you are a Sky fan and still speak so highly of the Fever.
It is being an objective adult.
I mean they had as much playoff wins as the sky
Eliminated in the first round.
Quita is always a model of objectiveness and genuine love for the game.
A. The racist filthy media, WNBA and ESPN ladies have had goals from the start. One (1) was to not give Caitlin the MVP Nor The ROTY award and succeeded in one since they had promised Aja the MVP EVEN BEFORE The season started. 2. To have The Fever and Caitlin lose as many games as possible and as was obvious to lose in the playoffs (The Fever WOULD HAVE WON that series but for the WNBA's filthy tactics). 3. Losing the Playoffs meant they knew had the Fever won they may just win the whole thing and they could not allow Caitlin to become maybe the Biggest Athlete the world has ever seen, surely the biggest female ever. 4. As suggested above, the WNBA players have easily damaged Caitlins greatness--she would have been even greater if not for the physical and mental abuse that has been allowed by the WNB (and NBA since they pay the WNBA). Those were their goals. Moving on, (B) nothing was done against RACISM when C Carter shoved Caitlin down and calling her a "White B#$%@#" but the WNBA states they 'wont tolerate hate or racism...'? They have beaten Caitlin Clark up, both physically and mentally and they expect the masses to just go along with it?!!! THAT IS WHY there is much unrest within CC's fans, because the WNBA and the racist media turn a blind eye to the abuse the THE White girl who has actually helped this filthy league rise. If the abuse on Caitlin was not tolerated by the WNBA/Refs, nor by the heads of ESPN, Disney, ABC and others, all things would have very much more peaceful and neutral presently. C. The WNBA players claiming Fever fans are the ones who are too abusive. These uneducated ladies can't read nor can't see nor are reason and logic their forte. The hate towards Caitlin is MUCH greater and has been for a long time which is why Caitlin/Fever fans need to stand up for her and what is right and sound because she wont. D. It is these WNBA players, the ones hating Caitlin and her awesomeness, who have made all of this a Black and White issue while at the same time they indirectly piss on Asians and Latinos for totally ignoring them in just about every branch of entertainment. They cry out racism yet they too dish it out towards every other race, ethnicity and background. REMEMBER, there are many Asians and Latinos who also enjoy Caitlin Clark and want her to play over seas, so are they racist, too, not to mention there are many Blacks who also support Caitlin?
The W missed the mark when they did not choose to expand viewership by expanding on the spotlight. Yes, you strike while the iron is hot but they chose not to highlight the other super rookies that came into the league. CC proved her worth, she is better than the average and will be a force to reckon with. This has been one of the best rookie classes and they did not give us enough of them.
Watching Angel brick layups all season is not entertaining. No other rookie has the IT factor . It's like you guys act like CC is just above average. No. She's the MJ of woman's basketball. She's head and shoulders better in her first season than anyone not named Aja and when CC add 5 -10 pounds of muscle like MJ did she will continue to be the #1 draw. The league messed up by not promoting CC properly and given her the rare once every 30 years treatment of a player that doesn't come around again in the next few decades
Good theory, but that would be like focusing on Sam Bowie when Michael Jordan was a rookie (which they tried and was a fail). Players have to earn their legend - in college is best (and not at corrupt monopoly or city schools that repel greater fanbases). What would have helped is the league instilling civilized foul regulations and tamping out the bullying attempts towards Clark both on the court and on the social webs. - Instead they let the bullies have free reign. Now the public hates the WNBA more than ever.
@@starbucksgirl6715
No I think we all need to not watch again until next season
And we shouldn't watch any teams who speak out about how much they hate fans or even Caitlin if it wasn't about the sport.
We need to send a message to the League and to the W...
Next season can NOT be like this season
The Refs
The players and teams attacking fans...
If they want to go after trolls etc they can I suppose...
But stop talking about it! Stop allowing your paid professionals to diss me or whoever else watches
And most of all...
Fair games no matter who is playing and some safety rules changes like the NBA have would be nice
This whole we're a rough league thing is silly
Nails are silly
I'm not asking anyone to boycott the league
I am only saying...
Right now is an important moment and we probably won't have a moment like this again...
Yo send this message
Us fans are not happy and this stuff can NOT repeat next season
MJ of womens basketball yea ok buddy 😂😂 @@StopHating-n8c
The NBA didn’t focus on CC she was her own advertisement. They did try to push recognition on anyone else but her. It’s a toxic league that doesn’t care about putting out a good product and make money. They just want to be given money
Caitlin Clark has the “it factor” like other great athletes like Tiger Woods and Wayne Gretzky. The majority of WNBA fans are men and men like the fast paced style and masterful passing of Caitlin Clark particularly her behind the back passes, no look passes and her bizarre ability to find the open player while being mobbed by defenders and her near court long passes to open players. No woman has ever combined all these attributes and she ironically is known most for her logo three point throws. She is also better than most men and women at free throws which she almost never misses. Lots of prettier and very talented white girls have come and gone in the WNBA and did not move the needle at all. Men and women saw her play and they could not stop watching her. She is a phenom and is incredibly charming and articulate in interviews and has a girlish quality and quirky sense of humour. She has that “it factor.” That is why she is popular and not easily replaceable.
You have a great analysis of Caitlin's impact, just like Jordan, just like Wayne Gretzky, just like magic and Jeff Gordon from NASCAR, and Lebron, Caitlin is all the things that you say, but I slightly disagree with your mention of a girlish quality, I think she has a very ladylike quality to her in interviews She doesn't flaunt herself or act like a generation z-er, She's business like and dry and almost wooden (Speaks rather quickly, straight to the point) in her remarks to the press after the game, so I think the fact that she isn't some model quality attractive gal, but she's very girl next door and acts above her age in her dealings with the press and co players, That deftly helps in her overall image
I agree.
That's what some analysts are missing. Women are not following the WNBA, men are.
And the majority of men like fast paced, great offensive players. The WNBA is not about that, vastly so.
Viewership will go down.
On top of this: the way CC was treated, the number of fouls not called in favor of the Fever sends a big message, one of corruption.
I watched one of her college games and that was it. Can't stop watching her now. I'm hooked now. CC is one of a kind , extraordinary.
I genuinely hope so. I am a new fan to the WNBA. Sadly, the vicious attacks against CC and Fever fans will probably result in much lower support for rhe rest of season.
It is a very simple question to answer. Make and keep the WNBA family friendly. I have watched Taurasi get lambasted for remarks she made without knowing the time frame in which they were made. Watch the Bird Taurasi show while they were watching Iowa vs SC in 2023. Taurasi said glowing things about Clark. When Taurasi made the "reality is coming" remark, it was after Iowa had beaten UCONN in the Final Four this year, you know, UCONN where Taurasi played. I watched Taurasi talking smack to Clark during a game and Clark said, "I don't give a f*ck" and Kahleah Copper laughed about it while standing next to Clark. And after the game, Clark patted Taurasi in the back, and they gave each other a hug and left it on the court. I watched the last Fever vs Sparks game, and before it started, I saw players from both teams giving each other hugs and high fives, then played their butts off, then left it on the court afterwards. People do not want to bring their children to games just to see players flagrantly fouling the other team. So, hug each other and give high fives before the game, play your butts off without trying to gauge the opponent's eyes out, then leave it on the courts afterwards. Also, stop running your mouths in the pre and post-game interviews. When it comes to those interviews, be like Caitlin.
I agree, Caitlin has handed taurasi her ass. Reality came quickly
When it comes to commenting be like Catlin
I don't recall her crying about anything off the court 😢
@@a1000island When she said "It's obviously not intentional" (eye gouge), I tend to think she's in denial. I can understand the "let it slide" mentality, but it's a costly one in the not-so-long run.
I watched parts of all the quarterfinal games as well as full Fever games. I will likely watch at least parts of semifinal games, as well. I know I don’t have to tell you that there are amazing athletes still playing. I’m a little disappointed that none of the lower seeds upset the upper seeds because I think that would have made things more exciting-I love an underdog.
@@MP-bk5sf For sure. The first two games should at least be split with the team with the better seed playing the final game at home.
The league, the players, and the more long standing fans could start by not constantly insulting the new fans.
But's it the NEW fans giving out most of the insults, hence the Real Problem.
@@natureredux1957But are these actual fans who’ve shown up at games and said out of bounds things or are these just online trolls who might not even be watching the games? Rightwing trolls probably barely knew the WNBA existed a year ago, but now the league’s on everybody’s radar.
@@natureredux1957 So it was a new fan who referred to me as "pink face casual" today.
@@ExplorationRandomDestination You really don't know what you are talking about. Trash talking CC fans far outweigh all other WNBA fans. Fact is that you and all the others want to brag about your numbers until we talk about these type of things. CC is RARELY in foul trouble. But she certainly commits far more then her fair share of fouls.
@@Pathfinder197 Well you cannot have RECORD ratings with Ghost Fans.
If the game was called fairly and the Fever lost... I would watch other play off games... but watching refs do a bad job is frustrating and takes the meaning out of competition. There is no point in watching refs pick a winner. Also, its disappointing to see elite athletes repeatedly miss lay ups. They will get more fans by officiating fairly and the athletes improve their dynamic skills, so they can play a game people really want to watch.
Mee too
😢
23 fouls called on Fever and 9 on Sun. The game was rigged.
Yep
@@CAD2039 I couldn’t agree more!
Putting rules on not allowing cheap and dirty fouls on players , they need referees that are professionals .
Fever fans are disappointed by the way Caitlin Clark was harassed all season and the. WNBA encouraged that by not calling that and let it continue . The referees threw that game 2 by being blinded to all the obvious dirty fouls Caitlin , and her team received.
Harassed by who? 🙄
@@stargazer2.3 you kidding right ??
I've never seen a basketball game that was unfairly called
Quita Ive lost interest with the rest of the league because of their treatment of us CC fans
Lol. Treatment? Your cult is horrible.
Exactly
@@victorforeman7056😂
@@arlethalewis3318 🤡🤡
They ignore when Caitlin Clark is abused and discriminated but make noise when it's the other way around, nvm the fact that CC has received the most even from these other certain unprofessional wnba players😂 The Wnba is rubbish, of course, we been hoping CC quit this crap but we know she ain't a quitter we'll keep supporting her through it all😂
Many CC fans like her entertaining style of play and her high level of professionalism and positive attitude. These fans will he attracted to other players with similar characteristics.
It’s why I follow you, Quita, knowledgable, entertaining, and positive vibe💕
True
You dont even know or even want to know about other athletes. You operate in a system that focuses on one athlete. I love the sport so I value the players on all teams. cc fans are like they are in some cult where only one person gets worshipped and everyone else is invisible. Gives off creepy vibes. Just my thoughts.
Do you know me? How do you know I “ don’t even know or want to know other athletes”?
Like Boston and Mitchell and Wheeler. They're very positive and great to listen to. All are very likable.
When you look at Twitter poeple are saying they will not watch until next season. Why would they? The are being blamed on every negative thing. Players, Old players, W gatekeepers, its like they want new fans to undergo an initiation 1st before being a W fan. It is not Caitlin's fault she is liked by millions around the world. Fans like myself can now go back to NBA socials debating basketball and not race, superiority, tenure.
They aren't watching because CC isn't playing. Period.
I've read it countless times.
".......it's like they want new fans to undergo an initiation 1st before being a W fan." What other pro sports league operation other than the "W" has ever made the slightest "silent" inferences where any new fans have to undergo some imagined initiation to be admitted to watch their games, in fact every other major and minor pro sports leagues, the "W" excluded, only want to have people with or without families go out to see their games played, no other requirements needed(lol)!!!
There are probably some Fever fans who just love basketball, they may continue to watch the games if only to see Connecticut lose . But there are lots of viewers who will not watch the games after the terrible officiating that has been very common in the WNBA . The league has made it clear they don't want us " new fans" , or they would have protected the players better instead of allowing the multiple assaults and hard fouls with no calls .
Well nothing sours an audience faster than indiscriminately labeling them all as white supremacy maga racists….
They wanna keep the administration status quo, no change in negative philosophy, hence no CC protection , a league of petty jealousy...
"They may continue...."
I'm sure those Fever fans are grateful for your gift. You hear that y'all...... you may continue 😂
@@19birdgang33swoopDo you always miss the point entirely? "😂"
🙄🙄
I have been a women’s college basketball fan since the 1970’s. On occasional years I have watched WNBA games. In order to grow the W, the league needs to change with or without CC. Watching the women maul each other in half court sets is not entertaining to the general sports public. The older players may be proud of their grown woman rough league, but basketball fans want to see basketball. If it were soccer, so many players would deserve red cards for dangerous play. The open, fast style of play is simply more entertaining. Next, the refereeing in the WNBA is horrendous. The calls are so inconsistent. On one play, a ticky-tack or phantom foul is called. On the next play, a flagrant foul is a no call. Next, some players, commentators, social media commenters have painted whole groups of “new” fans as uninformed, soft, or racist. Unfortunately, when a population grows, a small percent will be trolls or haters. The players need help managing their social media accounts. Turn off the comments. Don’t look at the comments. Next, the players and coaches need to have media training. Some do not know how to answer questions. Some have been very unprofessional at press conferences. To jealous players and formal players, the market decides who is marketable. The most marketable athletes need exposure, but they also need to be great at their jobs and likable to the public. There are diverse major examples: Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Serena Williams, Simone Biles, Michael Phelps.
You forgot Magic Johnson, I remember when he came in the NBA, great passer, scorer and personality. That all applies to CC too. Hoops was fun with Magic and it's fun with CC, that's my 2 cents.
I, too, have been watching WBB since the '70s. I agree with a lot of your points (the rough play, officiating, media training needed). You're right that "the market decides who is marketable" but people/fans shouldn't be upset that some WNBA players rightly point out that there are racial elements to "marketability"--particularly for women--and that's unfortunate. For a long time, Serena Williams wasn't considered to be marketable while the Sharapovas of the world always were. And though Serena is "likable to the public" there was certainly a segment of tennis fans (some lkely not really tennis fans) who made very ugly racist and sexist comments about her.
Trills haters racist are on the other side. That's the whole league
Everything has to change in their WNBA. It was too much, too soon, the league wasn't ready. Makes me wonder what have they been doing all these years?
People blame CC. No. Blame the refs who were atrocious league wide but especially against CC. Blame players who keep saying CC fans are xyz. You ever hear MJ,Kobe, Lebron , Melo, Dominique,etc call out another player fans??? Blame the 5 missed wide open layups a game by women who we been ignoring and telling to lower the rim forever ,Blame the horrible basketball... I love ball. Been supportive of rhe WNBA and ignored all the trash legit since it's inception ..go to Liberty games at least 3 per year since around 2010.. watched rhe first 4 seasons. .. finally a girl come along who look like a actual true baller and all she gets is hate which forced me to only root for her amd the Fever . I dont even like the Liberty any more tho I went to two games still..CC is playing ball.. the rest of the league messed up the opportunity to convert casual fans and I'm hardly a casual fan so for a sports fanatic to say I'm good tells you alot about the product... being told rebounds was more important than assists.. being gaslit by WOMEN ESPN media just turned most of us off as if we weren't watching only Fever games.
rebounds and defense win championships, prove me wrong.
They needed those rebounds...lol. CC lost. We are lost. These ppl follow Clark due to the drama from Reese. Point blank. It will be over, she endorsed Kamala Harris and the fans has turned on her. Her cult is tearing her apart. It was never about the game.@@randyholston5415
Take a player coming into the league after blowing up everybodys record in college and she is a generational talent with generational wealth before she ever takes her first shot yes there is a lot of jealousy that was waiting on her and then she goes and smashes dozens off records in the W her ffirst year not too many women able to deal with that oh and i lefft out the millions of fans support group. It really bothered auriema and i dont think he is a woman
@@randyholston5415 Okay, show me ONE game where defense and rebounding were high, but they scored less points and they won? 😂
I can show you games with horrible defense & rebounding, but where they put on more points and won the game.
@@GreatlinClarkFan-c5h "win championships" my dude, yes you can win regular season games by outscoring your problems but not in the playoffs. I'm a huge CC fan and think after all is said and done she'll have her name right with Maya Moore in the GOAT convo but she won't win championships until she gets better defensively and calms down the turnovers
Your question, on how the WNBA sustain the viewership, now that CC and the Fever is out, it has been the question of WNBA for 28 years. People are just watching because of CC, and WNBA should embrace the reality. CC is the free promotion, but, what WNBA did? They discredit the CC following, disrespected the Fever fans and accused of racism, hate, and most of the players do not want and need the Fever fans.
Here’s the deal. There ARE Clark fans who are racist homophobes. I’ve seen them myself in TH-cam comment sections and they’re gross. At the same time there are obviously a helluva lot of Clark fans like you and me that don’t stand for that crap. It IS a problem but we as the Clark fans who don’t stand for that shot need to shut them down and also stand up for all of Fever’s opponents. It is also true that Clark got between 18 and 20 % of flagrant fouls in the entire league, that is a problem but you also need to recognize that there’s aggressive behavior when the Fever isn’t playing. We have to quit bitching and moaning and lead by example. Show them that real Fever fans are cool and respect everyone. We won’t stand for the threats on anyone.
Reality is that probably 99 % of Ordinary Americans had not heard of the WNBA or any of its players …..then CC appeared and suddenly their was a truly Great Player who was also a Team player / builder , modest , honest , respectful , sharing praise with her Team mates , never bad mouthing other players ( even after they had been awful to her ) , non racist , straight ……and Ordinary People loved that image she presented and wanted to watch WNBA games ..BUT many of the other WNBA players were openly hateful and jealous ( and not such great players themselves ) and the New Fans saw it and don’t like it and may just not bother watching anymore WNBA games , not just the Fevers , but a huge number of the New Fans are really CC fans and will turn away now
@@andygeorgeparkinson2515 that is delusional. 99%, really. truth and reality work , you should try them.
Get it right. They knew about Bayou barbie and instantly grew into a jealous bunch.
The answer is simple and you said it. Personalities . After the Fever Sun game which was a great game, You don't take your hard to get media time and Air your grievances. The internet is Ugly Especially X . Stay off it . Funny I just watched the Prime Series Black Quarterbacks and what the early guys had to go through .Complaining wasn't one of them. They make it hard to be likeable . If they are not saying something to build the League then they are saying the wrong thing. Become likeable it isn't that hard
Why do people like to watch Caitlin Clark? Because the style of basketball she plays. A lot of the new fans come from watching the men's game. Faster flashier shot selection and passing without making as many 'idiot' plays like blown layups. She does need to work on ball handling against quicker high twitch players.
Also, believe it or not, CC feels like an underdog going up against bigger players who play "physical" against her or take cheap shots. People inherently don't like bullies. They do like underdogs who can get wins.
Lastly but maybe most importantly Caitlin never plays the victim. She goes off the handle on the court questioning calls by the refs but never on social media or in press conferences. Most normal people tend to be uncomfortable around a person with a victim mentality (unless they also have victim mentality I guess). If the WNBA's best players were more like CC, they would get big followings from new fans. Advertisers and corporate sponsors would be calling them up to sign them.
i might have watched some of the other games, but after the league behavior, i have a bad feeling in my stomach about it. for the clueless wnba leadership, here is the Cliff Notes for you: 1) we want to watch kind professionals demonstrating their skills. we have no interest in watching assholes mistreat other women 2) we want clean officiating and fairness there, 3) we want obvious violence dealt with swiftly and strongly. 4) we want to W to communicate these policies
Call out the league's behavior!! Make it known!! That should begin with the League's front office. Call out all the league has done wrong. Notice my words, the league not its players. You probably won't have an answer, but that's fine too.
Interaction between WNBA players seems different: pre game dancing, performance on social media: than NBA, Is this difference appealing to "fan base"? Seems like goal is getting "attention" ? But that may just be the 'way' in 2024??
As a newly minted fan of CC and Co,I felt insulted by the Refs and the WNBA. The way the Fever was treated is beyond disgusting,give us ONE reason why we should watch another minute of the rest of the playoffs.
Why would as Indiana fans support this garbage,since the comments by other teams that we’re all a bunch of Racists.
I’m a sports fan not a racist.
@magicman8817 If you're not a racist then you should be secure enough in yourself to not let that get to you. If you're a sports, then there's plenty of reasons to keep watching. NY vs. Vegas is going to be a great series, and both offense and defense. The 2 best players in the league are gonna go at it, NY, looking for revenge. Vegas looking to 3-peat. MIN vs. CON is going to be a defensive battle. The 2 best defenses in the W. Not to mention the awesome playoffs Napheesa Collier has had so far. The best coaches in the league are all here, so the chess match is gonna be cool to see. The refs are terrible for every team. Like the players, I try not to let them ruin the actual play on the court.
It's a basketball game, some great moments/ some bad moments: just like life: go with the flow.
They ignore when Caitlin Clark is abused and discriminated but make noise when it's the other way around, nvm the fact that CC has received the most even from these other certain unprofessional wnba players😂 The Wnba is rubbish, of course, we been hoping CC quit this crap but we know she ain't a quitter we'll keep supporting her through it all😂
@@CapLivesI am not racist, far from but I am tired of being called the f’n KKK, maga, racist and all the other bs. Nothing to do with security and everything to do with my peace. It is not enjoyable. Every press conference at this point is bashing us. No thanks
@@CapLivesit’s not about security, it’s about peace. People are tired of being bashed on for simply liking a player and team. Instead of saying “fever fans” these players need to learn how to stop alienating groups. Say trolls, say some fever fans, say some fans around the league…. nope. Broadstroke brush and people are done with it.
Future: 1. Decrease the violent play like the NBA did, 2. Get better refs, train them better, direct refs to cut down on the violent and rough play, consistently make calls and throw players out for deliberate, dangerous play, 3. Draft players for an open, fast style of play, 3. Give the general public the style of play they want to see and consistently make lay ups, 4. Stop insulting the “new” fans like they are all bad apples, 5. Give the players, coaches, and some in the media social media and media training, 5. Educate the players about finances, how the economy works, and marketing.
I'm still watching the WNBA playoffs and will be enjoying it because I love women's basketball 🏀 the whole world is not going to stop because of one person.
I think the first thing is they have to stop painting all CC fans or Fever fans as racist. I think it's reckless and it makes it hard to continue to support anyone, as no one likes to be insulted just for liking a team or a person. There is nothing wrong with calling out trolls and anyone making death threats is unacceptable. But painting them all as CC fans is just not being fair and you're making it hard for new fans.
I've noticed the difference in both. For ex: Fever Fans we're fans before CC and will be after CC. They absolutely love CC but they ALSO value the rest of the team save for a few they want traded.
CC fans are pure CCfans only. And that's fine. It's the ones trolling under a Clark or Reese flag that's the problem. Imo anyways.
Not exactly true. A Hawkeye fan who grew to be a fan of the rookies from watching them play against Iowa. Watched their games and progress too. Became fan of several teams. It’s unfortunate that people lump fans into groups. I just wish a lot of this peripheral drama would stop.
It's not being painted that way. Those people are doing all of those things under her name. As we see, the fans aren't making it up. So, if you see something wrong, you should call it out. I don't allow something wrong to be said and it implies I feel that way. I call it out. So, stop making this seem as if none of this is true. Stop it...that's a part of the problem. Acknowledge that something is going on and address it. Pretending nothing is happening is dated.
@@19birdgang33swoop No CC fans are not CCfans only. That's not true. CC only Stans are. There's a difference between those that like CC and even came to the W because of CC but appreciate great basketball players vs. those that only care for CC that can be considered a CC fan.
And trolls are trolls. Social media should be close to irrelevant in professional sports.
A. The racist filthy media, WNBA and ESPN ladies have had goals from the start. One (1) was to not give Caitlin the MVP Nor The ROTY award and succeeded in one since they had promised Aja the MVP EVEN BEFORE The season started. 2. To have The Fever and Caitlin lose as many games as possible and as was obvious to lose in the playoffs (The Fever WOULD HAVE WON that series but for the WNBA's filthy tactics). 3. Losing the Playoffs meant they knew had the Fever won they may just win the whole thing and they could not allow Caitlin to become maybe the Biggest Athlete the world has ever seen, surely the biggest female ever. 4. As suggested above, the WNBA players have easily damaged Caitlins greatness--she would have been even greater if not for the physical and mental abuse that has been allowed by the WNB (and NBA since they pay the WNBA). Those were their goals. Moving on, (B) nothing was done against RACISM when C Carter shoved Caitlin down and calling her a "White B#$%@#" but the WNBA states they 'wont tolerate hate or racism...'? They have beaten Caitlin Clark up, both physically and mentally and they expect the masses to just go along with it?!!! THAT IS WHY there is much unrest within CC's fans, because the WNBA and the racist media turn a blind eye to the abuse the THE White girl who has actually helped this filthy league rise. If the abuse on Caitlin was not tolerated by the WNBA/Refs, nor by the heads of ESPN, Disney, ABC and others, all things would have very much more peaceful and neutral presently. C. The WNBA players claiming Fever fans are the ones who are too abusive. These uneducated ladies can't read nor can't see nor are reason and logic their forte. The hate towards Caitlin is MUCH greater and has been for a long time which is why Caitlin/Fever fans need to stand up for her and what is right and sound because she wont. D. It is these WNBA players, the ones hating Caitlin and her awesomeness, who have made all of this a Black and White issue while at the same time they indirectly piss on Asians and Latinos for totally ignoring them in just about every branch of entertainment. They cry out racism yet they too dish it out towards every other race, ethnicity and background. REMEMBER, there are many Asians and Latinos who also enjoy Caitlin Clark and want her to play over seas, so are they racist, too, not to mention there are many Blacks who also support Caitlin?
No. The league will have less attendance and viewership. Sort out the mess, the refs and the catfights. Penalize and censure the jealous thugs like Crazy Carter, Mustard Carrington and Jabba the Hutt Swoopes.
I'd love to just watch CC shoot around by herself
That would be awesome
She will win every game hands down
They ignore when Caitlin Clark is abused and discriminated but make noise when it's the other way around, nvm the fact that CC has received the most even from these other certain unprofessional wnba players😂 The Wnba is rubbish, of course, we been hoping CC quit this crap but we know she ain't a quitter we'll keep supporting her through it all😂
Jabba the Hutt is only going to get bigger. she double fists Wendys Baconators and screams into the empty bag every time she hears anything positive about Caitlin.
654,000 tv viewers for the Sun/Lynx playoff game is awful, terrible. Attendance of just 8,500 for the Sun/Lynx playoff game is awful, terrible. Nearly 5,000 unsold seats at the Aces/Liberty playoff game is awful, terrible. Discussion is over, league is dead without Caitlin.
I appreciate your style. I'm a sub now. Die hard CC fan. But I have learned a lot about the WNBA this year. There's a ton of talent in this league. ❤❤. I hope they can rise above the noise. Thanks for your incite to
They won't keep them because these people only care about Caitlin. People in here talking about "we'd give the other players a chance if they didn't hate CC" cap, Arike and Satou have shown love to CC, and they didn't get that love back. Unfortunately, the actual hoops that will be on display in round 2 won't matter because it never did. The Lynx play awesome basketball, and they don't move the needle. I'll be watching the 2nd round because I'm an Aces fan, but I also think Sun v. Lynx will be incredible.
so glad for Mabrey this season, she's lubricated the Sun's offense a ton.
I will be waiting as well! The Liberty against the Aces will be a great matchup! I love Collier's game. So many great players other than Clark! True fans of Basketball know this.
I love that gatekeepers blame everything on Clark 😂
@@kobiianardo Same here. Mabrey deserved better. They Suns had to give up 2 first round draft pics (2025/2026) for her + 2 players. They showed Marina real love and she's repaying them back with her game.
Must see for me. MVP has my respect.
Quita, The WNBA needs to drastically improve in the areas of Officiating, Coaching (Head and Asst) The players need to become media savvy.
Also, the league needs to address security, both during games and when teams are on the road. Players should never be worried they’re going to be confronted by people with a beef during a game or traveling. Players should also be offered some general safety training/social media training. The two are connected.
The WNBA’s players could stop repeatedly declaring that a huge portion of their fan base, particularly new/CC/Fever are all racists, “nasty”, etc. A great starting point would be not assigning damning labels to a huge group of the league’s supporters because of bad actors on social media.
8:23 All sports deal with lower viewership when a superstar isn't in the playoffs (NBA, MLB, NCAA basketball, football, even gymnastics).. it's just the nature of fans, not sure it can be solved 🤷🏽♀️
It would be interesting to see how much the Fever-Sun lead-in game did for the Mercury-Lynx viewership. Only ESPN and Nielsen know but when did the 2.1 million peak number for the Mercury-Lynx happen? If the peak occurred during the early part of the game, then the 1.2 million/2.1 million peak numbers overstate actual draw of the Mercury-Lynx matchup.
As for playoffs The WNBA says I told you so, it is the other players, not Clark and does the WNBA believe that they will get these numbers without Clark.
Over eight games, the first round averaged 1.1 million viewers, or 8.8 million views, making it the most-viewed opening round ever across all networks.
Now back out the two Fever & Sun Games, Game Two 2.5 million which peaked at 3.4 million & Game One at 1.84 on NFL Sunday; or 4.34 million views
The other six teams drew 4.46 million views or 743,000 on average, compared to the average of 2,170,000 for each of the two Fever games, or Clark almost drew as many views as the other 6 teams over their six games.
The WNBA games on Sunday vs The NFL,
1) Storm vs Aces had 461,000 viewers,
2) Liberty vs Dream 410,000,
3) Mercury vs Lynx 403,000
4) Fever vs Sun 1,840,000 views,
From 2020 to 2023 the league grew by an average of 85,666 more TV views,
Clark in just one year grew the league by 858,000 or grew the league the equivalent of 10 years in one year.
WNBA TV ratings;
2024: 1,320,000 average viewers, 858,000 / 2023; 2023: 462,000 average viewers, 90,000 / 2022; 2022: 372,000 average. Viewers, 66,000 / 2021, 2021: 306,000 avg. Viewers, 101,000 / 2020, 2020: 205,000 avg. Viewers
Whoever brings the most views should automatically win the game
I want to see the Fever win every game next year because CC brings in the money😅
I'm a huge Basketball fan, MJ was it for me, than this young Lady comes along, and has me a fan of hers, and she went thru the same jealousy and hate by other players, but Clark had it worst with has beens diminishing her great achievements, I to will not watch the rest of the playoffs, just like I didn't watch 1 Olympic game, and I'm sure they don't care, but in my defense, I was the same way when MJ kept getting knocked out by Detroit
If you look at the fanbase for the Fever it is family oriented. WNBA has to clean up the roller derby rugby style players. Like it or not do you want to keep the fans. No parent wants their children going to school and repeat what they heard or saw at the game.
Simple answer, No. Viewership will decline. CC’s “the W” season is over. Product is not good enough to watch without CC!
Well the product will actually be BETTER without her and Toxic FANS.
Yea. Half empty stadiums. I’m sure the athletes love how that effects their paychecks going forward
@@natureredux1957 -Like you?
And going against the NFL...
@natureredux1957 it hasn't in the past..
They would have to get a head of official that could get refs that are trained and qualified to get people to watch. Every game landing zone, shoulders and above contact, break away fouls, are different. Reviews take a way too long. Also a team shouldn’t have to use give reviews due to the refs being awful. Game 1 the ref mistaking Hull for Boston u would explain away but in game 2 mistaking Hull for Mitchell is when I really start thinking they got them from middle school league. I don’t watch a lot wnba games because of refs. They are bad as a whole. NCAA and nba refs are a lot more consistent on rules. The only thing I found consistency in is the aces will get 60% of the calls
💯
Why not? I watched all Houston Comets championships.
Respect the league for the talent it has.
if the rest of the league didn't explicitly ostracize caitlin they would've had a chance of sustaining the viewership.
Catlin fans ostracized her by harassing other players. I’m not a fever fan(doesn’t mean I don’t like CC) but watching her fans from the outside trash talk other players and teams was crazy. You love your fav player and not have to bully others.
What do you say about the color men and women who constantly trash CC on TH-cam and X❓ it's both ways@@lalat5899
Definitely turned off A LOT of potential fans with their entitled attitude and hate keeping
@lalat5899 How do you know their caitlin fans? How do you know they aren't trolls? Quit acting like the internet changed as soon as caitlin got into the wnba. Major sports figures have been dealing with this forever. Men get yelled nasty things at baseball and football games. They boo you if you play horribly. But you're always going to have trolls getting under people's skin. It's just kinda funny that when Evans and Harrison come out about the abuse they took from sky fans, I hardly see anyone talk about it except Quita. You got not a single peep from the mainstream media. If you don't like what people are saying on the internet then don't look at it or get rid of twitter. The more you give trolls a reaction the more they're going to say outrageous stuff. Pretty simple stuff, but I'm pretty sure you know this already
League wasn't ready for prime time veiwership... Too many eyeballs now !!!
From the exit interview of CC: WNBA, all WNBA players, and ESPN, you have your marching orders: Address the trolls, not the fans. Do not alienate your new and old fans. Protect players and fans from trolls, race baiting, and woke media
The second game of the WNBA playoff series between the Indiana Fever and Connecticut Sun set a record as the most-watched WNBA game ever on cable. It drew an impressive 2.5 million viewers on ESPN, with viewership peaking at 3.4 million. I am excited for the next season.
I’m sure y’all would just prefer nothing was said at all. The players being harassed and threatened should just suck it up. It doesn’t matter unless it’s happening to Clark.
@@leiannb.wrytes8893exactly
@@leiannb.wrytes8893 you are all delusional if you think it's gonna stop by them calling them out. They've talked already about it and it hasn't stopped 🙄 SO STOP FEEDING THE TROLLS. Especially the media needs to stop and the players need to learn how to handle the trolls. Unfortunately, people are gonna talk and haters are gonna hate. CC has personal security, has people filtering her email and doesn't use social media for a reason 🙄 u all want an utopia 🤡
@@leiannb.wrytes8893 Threatened and harassed where? Please go listen to Wheeler and Mitchell's interviews. Social media has to be put into a healthy perspective. It's toxic. Don't go there and expect anything healthy. If you want to talk sports, the WNBA should set up moderated forums people can go to.
And as for threats, Clark gets a ton threats and ugly email. She just doesn't publicize it. We saw her get harassed in the 2nd game to the point a fan in the stand had to get tossed out. Stuff like this happens in sports.
All they have to do to get ppl to like the W more is:
1- promote the best players equally.
2- put Clark games later so that ppl will have to stay for her.
3- create narratives that’s are centered on unity and the game. it’s not hard.
But that makes too much sense, reality is here, CC is the best player bar none, Aja 2nd... the new and old fans know it ...
people like who they like. promoting the best players equally would only matter if people cared about them which ratings have proven they don't. that's not how sports fandom works.
no. If the rest are not worth looking, there is no reason to mess with people that bring eyes
All of these things you share wouldn't get me to watch or like the W more.
For me the WNBA needs to do a lot more, and sadly it won't happen any time soon
1. Crying on social media, victim card, race bating - needs to be gone (AR playing victim card, claiming people stalk her all the time (no police reports, so likely fake claims)
2. New commissioner - Cathy has been silent on all the hate CC gets and only believes that the negative drama around CC helps their ratings.
3. Long finger nails ban, your playing basketball not going on a date. How do long finger nails help you in the game? (aside from taking peoples eyes out)
4. Corrupt refs need to go. Example: the ref that gave CC a tech for smacking the padding was the same REF that didn't not tech DT a few games later for smacking the same padding CC hit.
#1 is possible but would take a season or 2 to clean up ( Cathy has to implement rules to deter this behavior )
#2 I dunno what Cathy contract is like, I have wanted NBA Adam Silver gone awhile and we still have him for another 10 years maybe more. So this likely won't happen anytime soon.
#3 Seems like an easy rule change but that falls on Cathy again..... so not likely anytime soon.
#4 Corrupt officials are found across all leagues, world-wide. As long as you can bet on sports you will have corrupt refs. You can solve this by holding terrible refs accountable (like in baseball the best umpires of the season get to umpire the biggest games of the season come playoff time, while the bad umps are sitting at home) but at the end of the day the ref will be like "I didn't see the play like that", "I was looking at something else on that play" etc. Refs are also in a union, and can not be FIRED because they made an incorrect call. This is why baseball umpires that miss the strike zone by 12+ inches, are still behind the plate calling strikes 12 inches off the plate.
I think viewers will be affected.
I don't know why some fans and WNBA players hate Clark and even the W itself I saw her exit interview. She's so compassinate. Her words are no hates or negativity.
Fever looks bright next szn.
Rest of playoff games not exciting anymore.
Only loyal fans of remaining teams will watch.
Most players are jealous of her bc she's so good....
@@dwayneaustin-fe5by😂
Quita. More fans love CC because she's humble. She has never said a bad word towards any player. She's spectacular and most importantly she doesn't come to press conf and whine and cry like other players. She's not a me me me person. Plus she doesn't play the race card like these other whiners out there. This is why she gets the ratings and breaks attendance records. Players like Alyssa and Angel come on here and cry about race and social media. Just stfu play ball and stay off social media. Very simple.
Well said. Hope these players take note now that all these eyes are on league lot more players will get credit they much deserve like Rakia Jackson, Collier, McBride, Arike, Carleton,Engstler, Cloud, Cunningham, Fiebich, Gray…list goes on. No one likes drama and dirty plays, it’s basketball not reality show. Win or loose players and coaches need to be respectful stop playing victim card it’s exhausting.
😂😂😂what a load of rubbish. Let's be humble during Interviews. But let's throw temper tantrums on the court and be one of the league leaders in techs. Stop it😂😂😂
@@spooked7772 🤡🤡🤡
@@spooked7772Yall need to make up your mind. One day she is the league leader in techs. Next day she gets a special whistle and gets ticky tak foul calls. Yall just say whatever to fit your argument. Also that tells me you don't watch the games because she gets techs called on her that another player DT doesn't get called on her for the exact same thing amd it was the exact same ref. If it's a rule then it's a rule but call them equally. All that stuff you named had nothing to do with being humble. Showing emotion on the court and wanting a foul to be called after you get mauled and getting techs has nothing to do with being humble. But show me an interview where she isn't being humble and saying something bad about a player/person. I'll wait!
@@zainehuckaby4367 😂😂 You have a bias fanatical outlook. She pushes off way to much for that not be called an offensive foul. She flops arguing to try to get a call. Slaps other opponents In their faces when she's dribbling trying to creat space with her off hand.Talk junk to opponents and the reffs and you have the nerve to say she's being mauled??? Stop it. Humility doesn't have an "on and off" switch. You either are or not. You people will literally make excuses for her and project the those things on to the whole league. 🙄 stop it
Game 2 that worst the worst officiated game the uncalled obvious fouls ever !!
You must not have been around 2 seasons ago.
I will be watching. Real fans of the game and league will watch.
You want a cookie?
@@jaylucas8352 You want a foot in your ass?
@@jaylucas8352 thats funny
Implying that clark fans are not real fans is a perfect way to prevent the growth of the league.
Truth! Certain fans only want to watch one player. This a league that hundreds of players and 12 teams.
Certain fans want pout, cry, and protest when “one” fan is fouled. Ask these same fans to name the last 10 players with fouls and flagrant fouls, they are deers all in the headlight. These same are angry if you live in Chicago, Atlanta, Connecticut. Las Vegas, , Minnesota, Washington, LA, NewYork, Dallas and Phoenix and want to support your home team
Wanna watch CC, sure -- also wanna watch KC playing with CC..... she's on fire with CC, but without her, no one there to respond. Same with the whole team. CC was the missing link.
I heard all the talk about Caitlin this year when I heard about her breaking records. I saw a few highlights. I taped a game in the NCAA tournament watched it and became a Caitlin fan. In order to watch her play I have to watch her in the W. I have become a Fever fan.
But let me be clear. I do not have to be a W fan. It is on the W to put out a product that makes me want to be a W fan. They have not done that at all. College bb is a better game. It is most assuredly better officiated. I do not want to watch prison ball.
And I do not have to bow down and kiss the ring of anyone playing in the W now or before. If I took my kid to a baseball game and he becomes a fan of a player or team I am not going to tell him he has to give credit to Babe Ruth or Hank Aaron. I am going to let him be a fan of the player and team he likes in the present. Old fans and media do not get to tell me what and who I have to be a fan of. I can decide for myself.
I have watched many press conferences pre/post game. I have never heard Caitlin disrespect anyone. She gives respect to her teamates, her opponents, the league and past players. She is the consummate professional. And she is 22 years old.
There are players on other teams that I like and appreciate their games. And there are players that have no chance of making me a fan. It is not hard to figure that out. If you blame an entire fanbase for the actions of trolls or crazy people you have lost me. Caitlin has had a bodyguard for a while now. I wonder why that came to be? I imagine what she has had to deal with is intense. But she is all about basketball.
For all the old W fans if you are happy with the league great! I am far from it. I want to see a cleaner less physical game. I want to see competent and fair officiating. I want to see players be more professional. I want to not feel compelled to pray for Caitlin's safety before her games. The refs have made it clear she is an open target.
So I will not watch the W till Caitlin and the Fever play again. I can only hope that changes are made in the league to address the shortcomings.
Long time basketball fan. Watched the W this year because I followed CCs' historic college season and then to the W.
I've grown to be a fan of other players and probably would've watched the rest of the playoffs.
Not now after the trashing of a whole fan base, CC, and a reporter.
Unprofessional top to bottom.
Quita..im glad to have found you via my searches for Caitlin Clark algorithm. I sincerely see that you are a true wnba fan and I love that about you. And on top of that I think you said that you’re Christian. May our lord keep blessing you with subs and may he grant you your hearts desire of being a sports announcer. This league has definitely made me sour over womans basketball. I might just keep watching college if it starts swinging the same way I will also turn it off. In this environment of Marxist/progressive/ communistic ideology that has taken over every sport you will become a target without no reason (because they will make it up about you). Your mom is awesome. 👏🏽🙏🏾👍🏽
They ignore when Caitlin Clark is abused and discriminated but make noise when it's the other way around, nvm the fact that CC has received the most even from these other certain unprofessional wnba players😂 The Wnba is rubbish, of course, we been hoping CC quit this crap but we know she ain't a quitter we'll keep supporting her through it all😂
I have never heard of you or your show, but added to that I’ve never watched the WNBA until this year or this season. I enjoyed it so much that my daughter-in-law and I have never had anything that we could share that we both like to watch until Kaitlyn Clark came on the same every game her and I contacted each other. We texted we phone call, and now listening to your show which I’m doing for the first time now I am so impressed with you your knowledge the way you handle this you don’t lean in any specific direction that I can tell. You just are a good person.
This is not a serious question. The VAST majority of basketball fans do not want to see the highest levels of violence, fouling, and degraded language of any major bball association. - There have been scientifically conducted studies showing the WNBA has the most egregious fouls, injuries, players driven from the league.
Basketball fans won't cheer for bullies. Are there any teams without bullies left? Then there's the answer.
Then arent you same fans speaking up for other in the league who are fouled, bullied and have a certain language. Waiting.Also, cc foul other players too. What about them. If you are do passionate, where’s the outrage. Sorry,I refuse to be apart of such cult. Wrong is wrong. To cc fans, wrong is only when it happens to her. Tricks are for kids.
@@stargazer2.3 Clearly you either don't understand what a cult is, or you are just plain disingenuous. If we are going to have dialogue, we can't be bastardizing terms to position our arguments above the others' - Cult, Racism, Coup, Woman. . . Come on now, are we going to be for real or not? Then you try to equate Clark's committed fouls to the wanton violence of other players. That is just sad. - As for standing up for other players, here's how championing causes works. Society upholds an individual's rights, or cases where these rights are aggrieved, and the reckoning process for the individual establishes the same for other individuals in society. The tenor of your question is also disingenuous for, clearly, the fans of a player should be supporting the well-being of that player (including safety). If your concern was for players other than Clark, it would follow for you to ask, "Why haven't the fans of other players been calling for measures to be made for their safety (for decades nonetheless)?" In the end, your passive-aggressive line is a sad addition to a narrative where violence against women has been ignored for years. Fortunately fans of Clark are making a call to change this, for the benefit of all of the women in basketball - despite the unparalleled efforts of an entire hive-mind of people who cry-wolf call ''racism'' at every turn of their obsession with undermining Clark's dominance.
@@stargazer2.3 Of course, a voice for Clark is a voice for all the players. That is how championing works. - Similar to a court case, we find one person who is wronged and identify this wrong, punishing the perpetrator and making it clear that such wrongs aren't accepted towards anyone. What benefits CC benefits all players.
Your question is wrongly directed - the real question is, "Where has the protectiveness been, for all of the players for decades, from their fans?"
I will be watching. I'm a WNBA fan. Did same with women's college basketball...watched every tournament. But that's just me. Hoping the best. Glad for great numbers for the W in last playoff session.
Good for you. I am a fever and storm fan and none is now playing so i am watching other stuff and all replays of fever. Wake me up til April ends 😊
You really shouldn't encourage the hate to continue brother
Let them learn...
Or they just won't
@@daz97 we are not hatin. We are just saying that DO NO FORCE me to watch or follow those that i dont like. Good for all the legends and greats but i my time is important and ill be watching netflix instead and fever replays.
@@nr14989
You're not hating bro
But the rest of the team's in the playoffs? The Refs included lol
All anyone does by watching what is left is telling them...
You can do it next season because it never mattered in the end
I am not telling him to boycott it
I am not even saying he has to do listen lol
But I do hope he can see that missing this one, and it probably will only be this one (hopefully)
Because the W needs to hear this message at this point
We need them to make some changes to how they move forward
Anyway bro
Take care
And whoever keeps watching, no issue man
But if this stuff matters to you, maybe think it over ✌️
@@daz97 omg youre correct... WNBA need to improve their trainings with the officiating. Its not a good look. 😪
I hate the sportsmanship in WNBA and the unfair treatment with CC from players, refs and the organization. Very disappointed and very disrespectful.
It has proven in Sport that you don't have to be the best team in the competition to bring it the paying fans & TV Audiences Great content 😂😂😂😂😂😎👊🏽
Most entertaining team gets the views. Sports is entertainment my guy
Yes, nothing should change. The other games were late on a work night.
It was also televised for everyone to watch it. I normally have to try several different channels or get subscriptions to watch a game or that there was a block in the middle of the screen. I was taken a back when I saw it full throttle. If the network would televise all the games like this the viewership would still be up. I agree that Caitlyn brings massive viewers but it’s also up to the WNBA and NBA. They don’t try to promote every team the same. Just do it because people want to watch the other teams. Other teams have fans too. Continuing viewership still affects the teams that aren’t still playing. They are a league of players and teams and it supports their pay their play and their livelihoods. As a fan of the league I would love to see the league continue to make it easier for us to watch the rest of the season. Nothing is given to anyone and every team is going to lose until they get to the championship and they crown a champion. Promote them all and be fair about it WNBA.
I agree about personalities. CC attracted me, but I like the team rivalries.
I doubt. I’d read a lot of Caitlin’s fans and followers are no longer watching WNBA since the Fever team is not playing any longer until next year!!!
It’s cause of how she was treated and the attitudes of the players
good. people can have normal discussions about basketball again without the craziness.
@@WinMLBbetsIt’s because of how she was covered in the media.
@@anthonyw.8103You are literally talking about a boatload of NBA fans who are very knowledgeable in basketball and finally got someone they can watch in the W.
@@leiannb.wrytes8893W gave other players media coverage it's just that no one is paying that much. That's the truth.
I’m a 72 year old black man from the sundowner south, and I’ve seen this kind of stuff in my own life, from both black and white. While I was attracted by the way Caitlin Clark plays, I am genuinely disgusted by the way she’s been treated. We grew up talking about content of character and now we have this role reversal from sixty years ago. The WNBA seems to be rotten to the core, commissioners referees media and players. People want a sense of fairness. A baby, your dog has a sense of fairness. It’s not there.
The way forward is to end the WNBA and move basketball overseas as basketball was for many years only in the United States. We will love Clark playing in Europe as many in the NBA from Europe grew up on Bird Magic Jordan LeBron looking across the pond. The European players are equilibrating as they’ve given the United States a run for their money every Olympics.
Character honor integrity sportsmanship. Not found.
Stop lying.
"as a black man..." sure buddy.
@@anthonyw.8103 perhaps you’re confusing black with gay like you. I don’t need to lie. Say I’m a white man whatever. Point is any human being would feel the same way.
I will continue to watch! So many great players!💜💜💜
Now that we have the best of the best playing I'm really interested.
Thanks for staying. These are the fans we need!
The finals and semifinals will be fine as far as viewership. It'll drop a bit, but it's not going to be a drastic dropoff like a certain fanbase wants to believe. The REAL fans will remain and will watch like they've been doing. It's not about to go from millions to thousands just because Caitlyn's not present.
Ummm you may think that...but you do realize CC 1st preseason game had a higher viewership than last yrs WNBA FINALS right
@@martinas2k11 And? Point is their viewership will be just fine with the casuals gone. Yall act like she's generating superbowl numbers or something.
I truly respect your show. It is a rare occurrence these days that a fan from another team other than the Fever has an honest view of what is going on. Fever fans are getting blamed for ALL nasty comments forgetting that trolls exist on social media. Do some Fever fans go to far? Of course they do. So do other fans. Thanks for the levelheaded take….it is a refreshing change.
One more thing…I’m not an Angel fan but I do believe she is the best rebounder in the W. No. Hell didn’t just freeze over. A Fever fan just complimented Angel Reese!
Get competent refs and make them call the game fairly and don't allow the intentional fouls. That's a good start, and then ask the players to be respectful, stop playing victim and complement each other- and not be petty. Then, maybe I could watch other games.
First off they need to get refs that will call the game fairly. Stop players from trying to hurt other players on purpose since the refs won’t do their job. For me it’s the refs not calling obvious fouls when they were trying to take out CC. We don’t need refs looking the other way in any sport so childish and ridiculous. You would think the WNBA would protect their moneymaker instead of hurting her.
Thank you for your Aneesah Morrow comment. I didn't understand it either.
I think New York/Vegas will have great ratings. Definitely over 1M viewers. Even on ESPN 2.
Not as sure about Minnesota/Connecticut. Could be around 500K for that series.
I do àdmire your brave take on CC, especially being a Sky fan,you Rock Miss Quinta
Quita, if this draft was the best draft in 10 years and they were ALL ballers which they are, and only 3 or 4 out of the 12 are given any significant playing time, then NO the W ISNT promoting the young players. Older players are demanding credit and attention which has blockaded the talent and story of the last drafts collective star power , and college fanbase from crossing over to the W -by way of the limited mainstream sports media coverage that the W gets; plus coaches not playing them. These 2 factors combined are choking the Ws present growth capability, which was and could still make an even bigger impact along with the CC n AR push it got.The leagues players and coaches are very selfish. Vets and coaches would rather get that tiny bit of glory than a larger explosion and surge in viewership and new fans. All the vets were supposed to play Robin in the draftess Batman movie and they would've became heroes, it just would've happened in reverse, which is a thing that veteran pride won't allow. If the W wanted growth instead of veteran glory, the explosion wouldve been even bigger than just what CC n AR did.It's unfortunate and true.
Quita, bring CC22 to commentate for the finals and the playoffs. That will bring in huge huge numbers.
Caitlin wouldn't do it. Let them figure it out on their own.
If Caitlin commentates I might watch I can’t lie
Thanks for the update. Please tell the current Wnba players and coaches that to be interested in #22 doesn't mean we don't like the other ones. Plenty of good times ahead for all to share 😊.
Without CC the numbers are going to drop like a stone in water!!! Players, coaches and media Podcasters have been hating on fans all season calling us racist while they repeatedly posted hateful racist post about us and now think we're going to watch!!!😂😂😂 not going to happen!! Viewership is going down to previous levels!!!😂😂😂
You’re during an excellent job!!!
I definitely think the league could have handled the influx of new fans much better, in the positive and negative. Vets blaming new fans for everything is a huge turn off, and so is the commissioner basically admitting that feeding vicious/racist fan wars is good for clicks. More fans = more crazy fans, so the league needed to embrace the larger audience with good will while providing players with resources to protect their mental health from online bullying, instead of demanding CC somehow control her fanbase. Reffing and professionalism needs an upgrade too, which I genuinely believe will calm down some of the online chatter. If the refs make the right call RIGHT AWAY, people will have less of a reason to get hysterical. Just my opinion. I appreciate how you keep things thoughtful here, Quita. 💜
well other playoff games avg only 400 000 ... so the Product offered for these games is inferior to the entertainment value of Indiana
you are right … viewership grew because of Caitlin Clark … i like your honesty
WNBA Players I know about...
Caitlin Clark
The blonde teammate that can also hit 3's
The one that poked CC's eye
The one called Boston on CC's team
A.J. or something I think MVP
Um... Caitlin Clark did I say that one?
This world is in serious trouble I swear. So now it’s not about basketball skills it’s about who can bring in The most views??? 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️ what a world we live in.
Sports is entertainment. Attracting paying customers and fans watching on TV is always a factor.
@@vernieistooold😂
Yes that's what it should be about instead they do the opposite and let the cash cow get eliminated
How about quit calling them names I'm including myself in this group i am a good person you are always going to have few people that just want to cause trouble Caitlin is a good person why do you people think her fans who are attracted to her aren't.
We want to watch basketball .. if these are fly by nite fans. Gooo gooo. So, we can buy tickets to enjoy the game in person
Huge CC fan. Im def watching the remainder. Now a Stewie fan, big Lynx fan now too.
I watch the Fever games to watch them lose period! I will definitely watch round two because those games will be more compelling than any Fever game! As you can tell, I’m not a CC fan and never will be! Bye Fever!
She could have used those rebounds from Reese. They would have gotten a W. They weren't that far off.
Bye Felica,
@@Godislove9273 Reese wouldn't have helped enough. Reese, like Clark, lacks experience. There was a big difference in experience between the two teams.
I believe if they clean up, refs need to be professional refs. Play basketball not boxing. Physical is good if it's clean. Instead of treating rookies as if they're joining the military or some college sorority , treat them and embrace them. If you say you're as good as you are then lead by example. I personally believe it just needs a little cleaning up. It shouldn't be political or a race war. 2025 should be only basketball.
The wnba is not a serious league. Like not professional kind of not serious. They prioritize agenda and politics over the integrity of the game.
I always burst out laughing when any WNBA player, current or ex, media, or league rep starts talking about their ‘pure form’ of ‘professional’ basketball. And how they get all insulted if you think otherwise. I showed my wife the eye poke video and she is NOT a BB fan, has never watched BB and she said it was deliberate and asked if DC was thrown out of the game.
@@marvs4321 even layman can see through their bs
This welfare league and players are not ready to deal with major spotlight. Players crying in the presscon, posting tweets blaming fans like what?! It's not good but it is the reality of this digital world. How do they think popular players from diff sports handle it day by day? I'd say just play better. Don't expect praises when ur playing 💩
I agree with the Super Chat "Vic Sister" this is by far the Best WNBA coverage. Period!
Quita The WNBA needs to hire you to do the data/analytics/ consulting... Or hire you to solve that very important question that you brought up how to keep the viewership very high even when Caitlin Clark's not on television when Indiana Fever are out of the playoffs or not on television.
Great discussion, I really hope W can capitalise off of this rapid growth!
No. I only checked in to see how Caitlin is doing. Other than that I have zero interest in the WNBA.
You can't argue they don't want Caitlin in the league. They really were abusive and horrible to her ALL SEASON. Sorry, but it's hard to like a lot of these players. Did you see the video when Mabrey hit the 3 pointer in the 2nd game to seal the win for CT. During the time out you could read her lips, Poke me in the eye to DC. She could have been blinded, and they were both LAUGHING. Sorry I can't watch players like that. And Kennedy Carter knocking her to the ground and Angel clapping !! Come one. How can people watch and like these players.
I'm a new WNBA watcher and it started with the NCAA tournament, actually before that it was the Big Ten games against Ohio State and Indiana, which led me to the Tournament; and the Final Four. I became a huge Clark fan but also a Reese fan and a Cardoso fan as well as Kate Martin and Nika Muhl fan. Anyway, I bought the WNBA Pass immediately after and started watching all the games, (I'm 66 and retired), and now love the WNBA. I remembered Taurasi and Parker and other greats and Stewie but never saw them play. I remembered those days but I was working full time and it was hard to follow the W because the games were hard to find. Besides, as a Syracuse fan I hated UConn- and it seemed like all the women's NCAA teams were terrible except for Tennessee, Louisiana Tech, and UConn, with the occasional Baylor, LSU, or Notre Dame. Anyway, I love the W now and it distresses me that I hear said that Caitlin Clark fans are racist. I love the sport now and I'm a Fever fan until I die, (I do also love the Liberty, as I am a New York guy. Giants, Bills, Sabres, Rangers, Knicks, Yankees and Mets, plus Syracuse and Notre Dame because in the northeast you have to have an alternative to SU in football since the McNabb days.) Anyway, I said all that because I'm here to stay but I wish all the crazy rhetoric would end. Love your Podcast Quita, thanks for it!
I think more media exposure for the other talented players, get them media trained as well, and also cleaning up the officiating and toxicity of the wnba would probably help with retention of fans to stay.
The W needs to clean up their image...This is a sport not a activist cult...Its just ugly...The W needs to get into the current century of entertainment...CC has just laid down a templet of how to achieve this all the W needs to do is follow it...Its not hard to do
2.5 million fans watched the broom come out. Awesome!! Bring on the Liberty vs Aces im ready for that!!
9:18. I’m sorry, but there’s no “figuring it out.” Viewership will decline it’s just a question of by how much. They hit 2.5 million with CC and fever. I think they’ll be thrilled with half that without her and it really doesn’t matter what round of playoffs it is.
Fever was opposite NFL as well
Noooo!!! I will not watch a bunch of Patty women with negatives behaviors. 😢 I will return when the Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark's team plays again. 😅
I came watching the WNBA because of CC but I also started learning about other players that played against her. I have learned to respect the game and came here with good intentions. I think what is disappointing is that some WNBA players are putting us new fans in the same category as those so called “fans” that are saying the mean comments. They should know that the small group of “fans” are trolls. I also think they should see the positive more, like more viewership, than the negative because they are also feeding into the negativity. If anything it should be about the sport and nothing else.
Thats impressive... even without the Clark games, viewership is still showing significant growth compared to 2023.
Numbers *with* Clark are just insane.
Answer: nope.
I will watch the WNBA. I am a follower of the sport and not a follower of a racist cult.
Hey Quita, Going Forward For Next Year For All The Older WNBA Players Out There Don’t Be Mad When They Put Caitlin Clark Games On TV Like A Lot Of Players Said When They Put 36 Of Caitlin Clark Games On TV Ie Lexie Brown And Even Cheryl Reeves Saying There Other Teams Out There!!!!! These Number Prove That Viewers Want To See Caitlin Clark And The Attendance Prove That The Public Want To See Caitlin Clark !!!!! So That Being Said That WNBA Players Have To Understand That And If They Want More Money Then This Needs To Happen!!!!
Cool 2.5 million viewers witnessed a sweepp😂😂😂😂😂
Perfect way to attract new fans (all the lower seeds were swept)
At least they got some playoff experience. 4 teams didn't even get on that playoff train 😂😂
so interesting Fever played whole game 5 against 6 players counting refs, who stood and watched fouls wonder how much bonus money they received
I cannot watch any more this year for three reasons:
1. Sickening on-court violence. I don't not like seeing people hit each other so callously. That eye jab made me afraid to watch ever again. Not a foul? No apology? That's not physicality; that's inhumanity.
2. Players on three of the final four teams have talked shit and made blanket accusations against ALL Fever fans, going out of their way to say I am not welcome. (I hate racism and have never said anything anti-black or anti-gay.)
3. I'm pretty sure Kamala Harris will either attend a game or get shout outs at a game, and as a non-voter, all politics offends me. I am trying hard not to see any of that "use my platform" stuff.
I'm just going to play 2k25 where none of those things happens.