NBA alum Gilbert Arenas didn’t hold back on his Gil’s Arenas podcast, calling out the WNBA’s reluctance to fully embrace its newest stars, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese.

Arenas drove right into the reality behind the hype, saying the conversation around the league is out of touch:

“The WNBA conversation is so weird.”

— Gilbert Arenas on Gil’s Arenas podcast

According to Arenas, both Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese “came in with a fanbase,” and even if the box scores aren’t filled with traditional stats, their presence has elevated viewership, full stop. He compared their entry to the rap game, where pre-existing popularity carries weight.

Arenas’ message? Stop undercutting them and start respecting the real impact. He noted that before Clark and Reese arrived, audience numbers lagged. Their names are now synonymous with ratings surges, record-breaking attendance, and mainstream attention.

Caitlin Clark alone has been credited for pulling a minimum $875 million valuation for the WNBA and generating nearly 25% of league revenue. This is no small contribution.

Angel Reese isn’t far behind. A cultural icon, she’s landed the NBA 2K26 cover, a signature shoe, and is at the center of a brewing rivalry with Clark that’s brought comparisons to Magic–Bird for its promotional power.

As Arenas put it: this isn’t about stats only, it’s about drawing eyes. Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese are here, changing narratives and smashing old-school expectations. If the league reluct is loud, so is their roar.

The debate around Caitlin Clark just shifted into book form, with two new releases dissecting her explosive rise and the WNBA’s response.

Veteran columnist Christine Brennan argues in On Her Game: Caitlin Clark and the Revolution in Women’s Sports that the league has been slow to embrace Clark, pointing out that despite media attention and record-breaking rookie success, league leaders seem hesitant to fully support her.

Jul 9, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) dribbles the ball while Golden State Valkyries guard Tiffany Hayes (15) defends in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

On the flip side, Howard Megdal’s Becoming Caitlin Clark places her story within the larger journey of women’s basketball, framing Clark as the culmination of decades of trailblazing.

“…the WNBA has failed to fully embrace her.”

This critique lands after Clark’s freshman year saw unprecedented ratings, sold-out homes, and headlines—yet the league’s tone remained cautious.

Jul 9, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) shoots the ball while Golden State Valkyries guard Tiffany Hayes (15) defends in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Regardless of angle, both authors agree on one thing: the conversation around Caitlin Clark and the league’s readiness, culturally and institutionally, to celebrate the moment she’s brought wasn’t enough. And for all the noise on podcasts, headlines, and now criticism, Caitlin Clark continues to pull the WNBA into new territory.