It’s obvious that Caitlin Clark is the WNBA’s biggest catch, and quite possibly the most famous female basketball player in history. Still, that hasn’t prevented the league from refusing to lean into her stardom. In a social media post promoting an upcoming game, the marketing team conveniently replaced Clark with a different player in the matchup showcase.
Do not disturb, the W is on today 😏
— WNBA (@WNBA) May 17, 2026
The @LVAces visit the @AtlantaDream for a must-watch matchup at 1:30pm/ET on NBC and Peacock.
Then, the @seattlestorm face-off against the @IndianaFever at 6pm/ET on NBCSN and Peacock. pic.twitter.com/mMDfp34EUU
Instead of choosing the face of the league, the WNBA selected Raven Johnson as the player to highlight. So is it safe to assume that Johnson is easily the second best player on the Indiana Fever? Not even close.
Johnson is averaging a whopping triple 1. Yes, she’s averaging a single point, rebound, and assist a game. Needless to say, the slight against Clark didn’t go unnoticed.
This is the player the WNBA marketing over Clark.
— Bobby Burack (@burackbobby_) May 17, 2026
It'd be less obvious if the other photos included other bench players. pic.twitter.com/Kq5Js9npqr
The biggest star in all of women's sports is in their league.
— Clifton Duncan (@cliftonaduncan) May 17, 2026
Pretend she doesn't exist.
Call her fans racist. https://t.co/SaXKMFZAe4 pic.twitter.com/bVJBFOV5JA
Absolutely amazing. You can't make this up. https://t.co/curKlXzxiz
— Jason Whitlock (@jasonwhitlock) May 17, 2026
Was Michael Jordan ever not the lead graphic on any Bulls game when he was a member of the team? You can say this is a small thing, but I would guarantee you Bill Cartwright, Luc Longley & Bill Wennington never got the promo graphic over Jordan. Sell the stars! Marketing 101. https://t.co/fPdJmIUUXl
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) May 18, 2026
Imagine the NBA promoting the Los Angeles Lakers & putting Nick Smith Jr. on the graphic…
— Jon Root (@JonnyRoot_) May 17, 2026
That’s what the WNBA did with this graphic promoting the Indiana Fever game.
No Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, Aliyah Boston, or Sophie Cunningham. They went with Raven Johnson… https://t.co/ofW4MYhnQ1
Also interesting to note that they included perhaps the biggest Caitlin Clark hater of Angel Reese in the graphic (who would go on to make only one shot with eight turnovers in that game).
I’m sure that keeping the White devout Catholic player off of the graphic wasn’t intentional, though!
