Ex-ESPN Star Ros Gold-Onwude Suggests WNBA Would Be Fine Without Caitlin Clark

As Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark continues to languish on a 3-2 team, people are wondering if Clark should even bother with such little support from the front office. But one former ESPN host believes Clark needs the WNBA more than it needs her.

During the latest episode of Court Vision, former WNBA superstar Angel McCoughtry wondered if the WNBA would be able to survive without stars like Clark, Angel Reese Azzi Fudd and other big names. But former ESPN broadcaster Ros Gold-Onwude declared that it would and argued that women's basketball is bigger than Clark or any couple of players.

"It's possible to say both of these things: I do think that Caitlin Clark and the boom of attention that was around her coming out of college brought a ton of new fans to the W and for that (she) deserves a lot of credit. But I think a lot of those fans were converted. They got here and they became Indiana Fever fans, because that team was really special - even without her - or WNBA fans. The ratings continue to be through the freaking roof. Business is booming. Everything is up. It's definitely not ONLY because of Caitlin Clark. Like, there's so much more going on in the W. Women's basketball, in my opinion, is much bigger than any one or two players..." Gold-Onwude said.

To be fair...

If we're going to steel-man her argument, it's easy to point out that the WNBA managed to survive for over two decades before Clark arrived, albeit with a ton of challenges.

But basketball fans largely mocked Gold-Onwude for believing that the many fans who started watching just to enjoy Clark would stick around for the other stars.

"No idea who any of them are... you can't force players on people. We know other players exist, we just don't care," one user remarked.

"No one watched the WNBA until CC showed up. She has brought eyes to the league and excitement. Learn to appreciate and celebrate her instead of denigrating her every chance you can," another declared.

"I get what you're saying but CC is the reason the league blew up! And yes there are other great players but you can't force or will people to fawn over those other players. It's NOT 'Oh we have to acknowledge all the players,' it's who the fans choose and they have spoken!" a third wrote.

Much like how golf managed to "survive" before Tiger Woods and in the years since Woods stopped competing full-time, the WNBA can probably "survive" without Caitlin Clark. But they've found new levels of profitability thanks in large part to the attention that she had personally brought to the league.

If and when Clark leaves, it's possible that the money train leaves with her. And at that point, who can say what the WNBA's financial future might look like?

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This story was originally published May 22, 2026 at 12:40 PM.