A former NFL player turned media personality argued this week that the WNBA would be better served without its most prominent player, even as he acknowledged that player was largely responsible for the league's recent financial success.
Emmanuel Acho made the comments on his Speakeasy podcast while discussing the ongoing debate around Caitlin Clark and the physical treatment she has received from opposing players. His remarks came shortly after Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas was suspended one game and fined $1,000 following an incident in which Thomas struck Clark in the throat during a loose-ball scramble.
"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," Acho said on the podcast.
He continued to argue that Clark had already accomplished what the league needed from her. "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," he said. "Caitlin got the necessary eyes there, but now that the eyes are there, we don't necessarily need her anymore."
Acho went further, suggesting the benefits Clark helped generate for players made her departure something the league could absorb. "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," he said.
According to Fox News, Clark's arrival in 2024 transformed the league's financial picture. Attendance climbed sharply. Television ratings set records. Merchandise sales surged. The WNBA signed a media-rights agreement worth more than $3 billion. Revenue grew enough to trigger revenue sharing with players. Charter flights became a permanent benefit. Under the new collective bargaining agreement, average player salaries rose more than 450 percent, and top stars are now earning upwards of $1.5 million per year.
The Thomas incident renewed a debate about whether Clark is being specifically targeted on the court. Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham addressed the issue directly on her own podcast. "You see the videos of literally kneeing and cheapshotting [Clark] in the throat... they're definitely targeting her and the league and the refs do nothing to protect her," Cunningham said.
Acho's comments drew attention in part because they came while he was simultaneously crediting Clark for the league's growth. His argument held that Clark served her purpose for the WNBA and that the league no longer needs her to sustain its momentum.
