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Emmanuel Acho says the WNBA is better without Caitlin Clark.
Sports talk show host Emmanuel Acho thinks the WNBA would be better off without Caitlin Clark. He believes the attention received is more of a negative than a positive.
Evidence does not support that claim. Instead, it suggests that the league needs her to survive.
Clark’s addition to the WNBA has brought eyes to the sport. That’s, in turn, created massive opportunities for current players.
Popularity is at an all-time high. That can be directly attributed to Clark’s entry into the league. It did not stop one sports personality from arguing for her removal.
Emmanuel Acho says the WNBA is better without Caitlin Clark.
Acho appeared on his Speakeasy podcast to speak on the topic this week. He believes it would benefit the WNBA to part ways with Caitlin Clark.
“The W, at this junction in time, would be better off without Caitlin Clark because she is a bigger distraction than she is an additive. Caitlin Clark has gotten the WNBA over the necessary threshold they needed. Now, people are watching. Now, we realize there’s talent in the W that’s actually even greater than Caitlin Clark…
“Caitlin got the necessary eyes there, but now that the eyes are there, we don’t necessarily need her anymore… Caitlin Clark has gotten the WNBA players past the proverbial Red Sea. Chartered planes, new CBA, new max contracts. With all due respect, if Caitlin disappeared from the W, she wouldn’t be missed.”
Acho later admitted that his take was irrational. That does not change the fact that he says “this version of Caitlin Clark” is not healthy for the league.
Evidence suggests otherwise.
The league needs Clark.
With Caitlin Clark in the WNBA, it’s thrived. It made enough money last year to trigger revenue sharing with players. It no longer needs the NBA to survive financially.
Much of that success can be directly linked to Clark. WNBA ticket sales increased 93% in her first year. Her team, the Indiana Fever, went from second-lowest attendance in 2023 to a league leader in her rookie season. They’ve continued to rank among the Top 3 since.
She is not the only star in the WNBA, but she is the most marketable one. Clark has reportedly sold more jerseys than any basketball player not named Steph Curry since 2024. She made $16 million from sponsorships last year.
The former Iowa star has brought tons of attention to the league over the last two-plus seasons. Her presence helped players land a massive pay raise over the offseason. She could help secure another bump at the next CBA negotiation.
Emmanuel Acho’s reasoning behind the take referenced officiating and optics. He says the league shouldn’t have to protect Clark by changing rules. The truth is that every league makes adjustments to ensure its stars shine.
The conversation followed a recent incident between Clark and Alyssa Thomas which led to a suspension. Thomas put her fist in Clark’s throat during a scrum for the basketball. No foul was called. The WNBA later assessed a Flagrant ruling, forcing the Mercury star to miss her last game.
That play sparked a massive reaction online. Sophie Cunningham says the league should do more to protect her teammate. She believes officials turn a blind eye.
“(Players) are definitely targeting her, and the league and the refs do nothing to protect her.”
There are two sides to the argument; Acho’s, which does not want to see a star player coddled, and Cunningham’s, which believes protection is necessary because Clark is at a higher risk of malicious play.
Regardless of which side of the debate you fall on, one thing remains true. The WNBA needs Caitlin Clark much more than she needs it.