Dallas Wings star Satou Sabally recently shared her thoughts on the current narrative surrounding the WNBA and the unprecedented attention given to Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark. In a candid discussion on the “Podcast with P,” Monday, Sabally expressed that while Clark is an incredible talent, the spotlight on her sometimes overshadows other deserving players in the league.
“I think the WNBA narrative right now is Caitlin Clark and I think that’s a good narrative, but it’s also not the only narrative,” Sabally said. She acknowledged Clark's generational talent and potential but emphasized the challenges Clark will face as a rookie, including heightened scrutiny and competition.
“You’re the No. 1 pick, people are going to go after you. Whether that’s for the right or wrong reasons, but people are going to go after you because they see greatness in you. The WNBA is measuring one type of greatness against another type of greatness. Am I saying it’s right that she’s being pushed in the back? No, that’s foul. That has no space in this sport and we all know that,” Sabally said. “But when I’m watching ESPN and the only highlight you can see is how hard she gets screened, I think that it takes away from the actual point of basketball … Like yeah, you will have hard screens. Like when I was setting screens, guards were running through me and I fell down trying to set a screen. And that is not being shown on T.V. Like we can’t be too soft now.”
Media only focuses on certain players
Sabally also highlighted the broader issue of how the media often focuses on a select few players, potentially neglecting others who also deserve recognition. She mentioned players like the No. 4 overall pick Rickea Jackson of the Los Angeles Sparks, who was less highlighted during the 2024 WNBA Draft compared to Clark. Sabally called for a more inclusive narrative that celebrates all women in the sport and leverages the current wave of interest in women's basketball to elevate the entire league.
“I think that’s a problem about our narrative right now. That we’re not using the wave of women’s basketball and women’s empowerment that Caitlin brings, and really really amplified and (to) open eyes to support all the women. To kind of keep that lens so small on the things that matter, but it’s not the only thing. If the public eye had been on Stewie (Breanna Stewart) winning four championships – like no shade, but Caitlin didn’t win … Stewie won four times in a row, and if it would have had the same attention, it would have been further. People like Stewie, we were having interviews, saying ‘Hey, why don’t you show the NCAA Tournament on T.V.?’ Like we didn’t even have games on T.V. So I think, year by year, we all have to fight together to pave the way for the future generation. And this generation right now, they’re really profiting off of people like Candace Parker. Even A’ja (Wilson), like the women before them.”
Despite her critiques, Sabally expressed support for Clark and the positive impact she has on the sport. She noted that Clark's $28 million, eight-year Nike deal is a step forward for women's sports, reflecting the potential for athletes to achieve significant financial success. Sabally hopes the momentum will extend to more players, helping them to be equally recognized and compensated.
“It’s just great now to see that she’s (Clark) someone who gets a million-dollar Nike deal. Like that’s amazing, this is what we want, we’re happy about that. Now we have to look at our whole collective like, ‘Hey, why can’t it be more than gain generational wealth?’ … I think there’s a race thing here that’s going on in America, and people are really just making everything so much more than it actually is, which is basketball and the development of women’s basketball. Like this is amazing. So I’m happy about all the new fans.”
Caitlin Clark shouldn't have to be a spokesperson
Sabally also provided some advice for Clark, acknowledging the immense pressure on her to be a spokesperson for both the sport and broader societal issues.
“I think it’s really really hard to put that much pressure on a young woman to be a spokesperson for the United States, and really, globally and historically. We have struggled with as an entire society, to make her a spokesperson for that – that is a lot. But can you talk about white privilege? Yes, you can. But, do you have to be the spokesperson for it? I don’t think so. If that doesn’t come from her, I think it’s unfair to put that burden onto someone, but I do think it’s good to have that conversation as a society … It goes into intersectional struggles too, you know, struggles that white women also face,” Sabally said. “I do think she’s doing a great job. And I would just tell her that I’m proud of you, keep doing your thing and try to blend out the noise … What I hope for her is that she still knows that there’s a community of women around her that want her to succeed. Not everyone wants someone to fail, because if you want someone to fail, like, you’re jealous. You’re not great if you want someone else to fail because you can’t prove your own greatness.”
Sabally’s comments come at a time when the WNBA is experiencing unprecedented growth in viewership and attendance. The league has seen a significant increase in diverse audiences, with viewership among people of color growing by 60% year-over-year. The WNBA has also reported a 236% increase in merchandise sales, driven by stars like Clark and Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese.
WNBA brimming with other talented players
Sabally reiterated that the focus should not solely be on one player but on the collective talent in the league.
“Like, if we just look at Indy (Indiana Fever), like Aliyah Boston is the No. 1 (2023) pick, and you dare not to say her name once? That’s not okay. Like how can we not talk about Aliyah Boston or NaLyssa Smith, who are amazing players who are on the same team. … and now you can maybe say, gey, maybe now Caitlin can use her voice or her social media to support your teammates too, because you want them to support you too on the court. Which did not happen. And now questions arise like, ‘Hey, what’s actually going on?’ And that shouldn’t be the case,” Sabally said. “Also pushing the public narratives, like hey, there’s other players in the league. There are other players that are better in the league. like she’s not coming in and destroying everyone. Like Candace Parker got the MVP her rookie season. And she’s (Clark) far from that right now, from what it looks like.”
“There’s just so much more to the WNBA than Caitlin, but Caitlin is the face right now, and that’s also good … She’s selling out gyms… she is her own economy and that is amazing, and she’s being paid her worth. Now we need to get other women on board to get paid their worth because she’s the reflection of what should happen in women’s sports,” she added.
The Fever rookie guard has indeed been the subject of significant attention and controversy. As Clark navigates her first season, she has already shown flashes of brilliance, such as her historic performance with 30 points, five rebounds, six assists, three steals, and three blocks in a game against the Sparks on May 28, a feat achieved by only a few other WNBA players in history However, her rookie season has also been marred by incidents like a flagrant foul from Chicago Sky’s Chennedy Carter, leading to discussions about whether she is being targeted by other players.
Despite these challenges, Clark remains a pivotal figure in the WNBA and for the Fever, bringing increased viewership, fan engagement and interest to the league.
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