Dwyane Wade Blames Fans for WNBA’s Struggles Despite Caitlin Clark’s Rising Stardom

Dwyane Wade has exposed the harsh reality to fans. After constant struggles, the women’s basketball game has finally made it! With talents like Caitlin Clark and coach Dawn Staley’s South Carolina squad, it has finally been able to connect with fans and garner attention. As Clark heads for the WNBA, this success has also highlighted the pay disparity and lack of lucrative shoe deals that exist in the league. Many fans have taken to social media to express their anger on the issue. NBA legend Wade called out these fans in his latest statement, revealing the reasons behind this stark contrast.

During a conversation on his Wine Down podcast, he shared that the reason, WNBA players don’t get signature shoes and lucrative deals as NBA players is because of the lack of support from fans.

“You got now the people coming out of the woodwork that’s never watched the game that doesn’t know nothing about the game now point to say well why is she only getting 300,000 over four years why she don’t have a signature shoe why y’all ain’t supporting how you going to say why somebody a got something if you ain’t supporting them like they ain’t got signature shoes because no one has been they’ve had a couple people but it’s not like it’s people going out and running to sleeping overnight like they do with Jordans to go get these things,” Wade said.

Speaking of Caitlin, he further added, “It has to be built. Caitlin Clark has a biggest brand in the world…she became a star in middle of America that’s the meat of it.”

Clark earned offers of more than $16 million for over four years from Under Armour. And she further got a $6 million deal for over four years from Adidas. While Clark has indeed opened up the door of opportunities for future players, others have to struggle and win their own games to claim equal success and reach parity with NBA men’s. 

Dwyane Wade is excited for the Chicago Sky

Moreover, the Miami Heat legend has always been supportive of the Women’s Basketball Game. To show his support, Wade bought a minority stake in the WNBA team Chicago Sky so that he could contribute to the team and lead it to success.

While the team couldn’t acquire Clark, who was selected as the first pick by the Indiana Fever, the Sky secured Kamila Cardoso as the third pick and Angel Reese as the 7th pick. Wade considers Reese’s inclusion as a significant “win” for the team, stating she is the best choice for Chicago and fulfills the team’s current needs. 

“You don’t mess with Angel Reese, ’cause she about that life. Like, ‘Let’s go’, you know what I mean? All that cute stuff in the locker room, I’m out here to get dirty. You love that, and that’s what Chicago loves,” Wade said in the podcast. With Wade as a minority owner and two new stunning players, things will certainly get exciting for the Sky and WNBA. What is your take on Wade’s claims? Let us know in the comments section below.