There’s no doubt Indiana Fever’s star rookie has solidified herself as one of the most dominant athletes in 2024. From her jaw-dropping three-pointers to precise assists, scoring outbursts, and triple-doubles, the 22-year-old Iowa native has proven her worth at every step of her debut season in professional basketball. But if you think Caitlin Clark is done making headlines think again—she’s just added another purple feather to her ever-growing list.

Notably, Clark earned the prestigious Time Athlete of the Year award, becoming the first WNBA player to receive this honor. For someone so used to being first, this achievement feels like another chapter in her history-making journey. From leading the Iowa Hawkeyes to the national championship game, where she clinched the Naismith Player of the Year award, to being selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever, Clark has continuously set new standards. Yet, she receives some hate.

“No question about it—she’s definitely Sports Illustrated Athlete of the Year and yet another reason for the WNBA to hate her,” joked Los Angeles Lakers broadcaster Mychal Thompson. And honestly, he’s not wrong. Clark’s rise to superstardom just keeps giving everyone more reasons to discuss her.

It seems like she’s just not making waves on the court but stirring up some drama off-court. Thompson isn’t alone in pointing out the tension. NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal has jumped into the conversation, saying WNBA players are targeting Clark because of her rising stardom.

“The WNBA girls are letting her know… One person may have all the props, but it’s never just one person,” Shaq shared earlier this year. He believes Clark is doing amazing things for the league, but other players aren’t getting the credit they deserve.

“So I think where people get upset is, as a player, you don’t want to be forgotten,” Shaq added. “It’s professional jealousy. I think people should focus more on not just her because she is a great player.” Even though many acknowledge the WNBA is more than just Caitlin Clark, the animosity towards her is still noteworthy.

Caitlin Clark has been a game-changer for the WNBA

Since being drafted as the No. 1 pick by the Indiana Fever, she took the spotlight easily. Initially, she was criticized for not living up to expectations, and then she flipped the script by outperforming everyone, which led to other players being overshadowed. But no matter what, Clark has undoubtedly made an impact.

Get this: she’s responsible for nearly 26% of the WNBA’s economic activity. The 22-year-old from Iowa has been credited with one out of every six tickets sold in WNBA arenas during her debut season. And it doesn’t stop there—the Fever’s games alone account for 45% of the league’s broadcasting value. She’s even boosted the WNBA’s TV viewership by an eye-opening 300%. It’s a regen of Stephen Curry in the women’s basketball circuit.

Crazy, right?

Every game she plays is a record-breaker. The Fever has seen record attendance, averaging 17,036 fans per game since Clark joined. Her regular-season games averaged 1.2 million viewers—over 200% more than games she didn’t play in. And she’s not just breaking viewership records; she’s already set 19 records herself. As she gears up for the next season, everyone’s eager to see what she’ll do next.

So, what do you think? Is there really that much hate for Clark in the WNBA, or is it just professional jealousy?