With Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever in the offseason, sports commentator Jason Whitlock proposed that the rookie sensation should take the reins of a new league to rival the WNBA. As the New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx compete in the WNBA finals, many players have sought opportunities in different leagues due to the WNBA’s less lucrative salaries.
Speaking on his Fearless program, Whitlock criticized the management of the WNBA, highlighting its issues. “Half the WNBA right now is overseas, playing in some foreign league because they don’t make enough money during the WNBA season,” he noted. “They’re already playing in rival leagues; why not start a rival league?”
Whitlock suggested that a new league could operate during the summer or begin immediately in the U.S., presenting a potential alternative for players seeking better financial opportunities. His comments have sparked discussions about the future of women’s basketball and the need for improved conditions for players.
Jason Whitlock continued his argument for a rival league to the WNBA, specifically mentioning rookie Kamilla Cardoso, who recently left the U.S. to play overseas. He suggested that having Caitlin Clark at the forefront of this new league would provide a compelling alternative for players seeking better opportunities.
“I just saw Kamilla Cardoso; I can’t remember what country she was flying off to,” Whitlock stated. “But you think Kamilla wouldn’t prefer to say, ‘Oh, I don’t have to leave the country. I can play basketball and get paid?’ A league with Caitlin Clark would draw a larger audience, filling more seats than the WNBA, and [Cardoso] wouldn’t have to be a tool for politics.”
Whitlock also claimed that Saudi Arabia would be willing to fund this new league, criticizing NBA and WNBA commissioners for not capitalizing on Clark’s popularity. “I’m gonna tell you who’s going to do this: Saudi Arabia,” he said, noting the significant momentum behind Clark and women’s basketball.
“Adam Silver, Cathy Engelbert, the people running the NBA and WNBA, they are idiots,” Whitlock continued. “They don’t know how to maximize this Caitlin Clark gift.” His comments have ignited discussions about the potential for a new league and the future of women’s basketball.
Jason Whitlock highlighted Caitlin Clark’s impressive Rookie of the Year campaign, which significantly boosted the WNBA’s viewership and attendance. During his discussion on the possibility of Clark leading a rival league, he mentioned several players who might join her, including Angel Reese.
“I don’t know fully where Caitlin Clark stands; she may be a closeted feminist, but I know money talks,” Whitlock stated. “I think Angel Reese—she’ll jump on board. Juju Watkins, she’ll jump on board. Paige Bueckers, I think she would jump on board.”
Whitlock proposed that UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma should serve as the commissioner of this new league, suggesting that players could also become part owners.
He noted the recent initiative by UConn alums Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, who co-founded the Unrivalled 3on3 league set to launch in January in Florida, featuring 26 players and six teams. Whitlock’s comments have sparked renewed interest in the future of women’s basketball and the potential for new opportunities outside the WNBA.
