The Indiana Fever have been without Caitlin Clark for weeks, and while her recovery from a groin injury was expected to keep her sidelined temporarily, the lack of clarity around her status has created a storm of speculation.
Now, sports commentator Jason Whitlock has weighed in with a bold claim: that Clark‘s absence is being used by the league to promote fellow rookie Paige Bueckers as a new face of the WNBA.
Clark has not played in more than a month. Head coach Stephanie White has repeated that the guard has not resumed full practice and that her long-term health is the priority.
But Whitlock is unconvinced by the updates, pointing out that Clark has been traveling, signing autographs, and even participating in limited physical activity.
“Five weeks, no discussion with the media? Caitlin Clark doesn’t mind talking to the media,” Whitlock said on his show Fearless with Jason Whitlock.
“She’s been travelling with the Indiana Fever, standing on her feet, signing autographs… She’s been doing physical activity. There have been reports she’s doing some full-court running. She’s close to this. She’s close to that. And now, from out of nowhere looks like she may never play this season!”
Spotlight shifts toward Paige Bueckers
Whitlock‘s argument extends beyond Clark‘s recovery. He suggested the league is content to move attention toward Paige Bueckers, who has been breaking records in her rookie campaign with the Dallas Wings.
“They [The WNBA] would be very comfortable with Paige Bueckers as the face of the league,” he said. “She’s a lesbian. She scored 44 points last night. She’s got a special whistle. The league is trying to lean into Paige Bueckers because she fits the profile of what they want.”
The comment came after Bueckers erupted for 44 points against the Los Angeles Sparks, a performance that tied a WNBA rookie record and immediately went viral.
The display earned recognition from Magic Johnson, Ja Morant, and Chet Holmgren, among others. Even Draymond Green sparked discussion by questioning ESPN’s choice to spotlight Bueckers in a post about the league’s record-breaking attendance, asking whether “a shift” was taking place.
Both players have strong cases to be considered franchise-level stars. Bueckers is averaging 19.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game, while Clark put up 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 8.4 assists in her rookie season.
For Whitlock, though, the debate is less about numbers and more about perception-whether the WNBA is deliberately positioning Bueckers in Clark‘s absence.
Confusion over Clark’s recovery
Fueling the debate is how the Fever have communicated updates on Clark‘s status. Earlier this month, reports surfaced that she also sustained a mild bone bruise in her left ankle. Team insiders stressed it would not delay her return, but analysts have pushed back.
“I honestly call BS on that,” said Rachel DeMita on Courtside Club. “If you suffer any sort of injury, especially when she’s rehabbing a leg injury, and then you have an injury that’s also happening to the lower portion of your body? To me, I call BS on that.”
Journalist Scott Agness has suggested Clark could be reintegrated into practice soon, though nothing has been confirmed. With only a handful of games left in the regular season and Indiana already dealing with a depleted backcourt, the Fever may choose not to rush her back.
What remains clear is that Clark‘s absence has left a void in the WNBA spotlight-and Bueckers‘ rise has filled it.
Whether this is a natural progression or, as Whitlock suggests, part of a larger narrative pushed by the league, the debate underscores just how influential both rookies have already become in shaping the future of women’s basketball.
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