The Caitlin Clark Day! The rookie sensation turned 23 on January 22, and what a year it has been for her. From being drafted No. 1 overall to dominating the WNBA like she’s been there for years, CC has a lot to look back at. At just 22, she’d already rewritten the WNBA’s history books. And now, as she steps into 23, it’s hard not to imagine what’s next. But, amidst all this, one thing seems oddly consistent: the WNBA’s alleged lack of enthusiasm for their very own “golden goose.”

But truly, the celebration for one thing or another has been pouring in for the 2024 draftee all this year. She bagged countless accolades, broke a laundry list of records, and earned more recognition than most players dream of in their careers. This would make you think someone like her might have gone all out. Maybe a grand party, a getaway to some exotic place, or even just a chill day off. 

Well, none of the above. Instead, she spent her birthday exactly how you’d expect a basketball fanatic to. Grinding it out on the court. The Indiana Fever posted a video of Clark dripping with sweat, sinking three-pointer after three-pointer during a workout. But her Fever family still made sure to bring some birthday love. 

After her workout, as she walked into the weight room, the Fever’s staff and coaches surprised her by singing “Happy Birthday” and lighting candles on a cookie cake. The video of Clark’s genuine smile as she realized what was happening was wholesome.

And obviously, those who couldn’t be there were showering their love on social media. Fever teammate Aliyah Boston, former Iowa teammate Kate Martin, and even Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton dropped heartfelt shout outs. There was also a super sweet post from her boyfriend, Connor McCaffery. 

But amidst all the love flooding her feed, there was one glaring omission—the WNBA itself. The league’s social media accounts stayed completely silent, which didn’t sit well with fans. After all, they’ve made a point to celebrate other players’ birthdays in the past. So why skip over the player who’s arguably had the biggest impact on the league’s growth? Fans weren’t just disappointed. They were frustrated, angry, and demanding answers.

WNBA fans furious over Caitlin Clark’s birthday snub

The WNBA’s birthday wishes have sparked a full-blown fan outrage. One fan wrote, “It’s after 4 PM Central Time, and no happy birthday for Caitlin Clark yet. Anyone who says there isn’t an agenda in the league is either willfully blind or racist.” 

This hits a nerve in a league where discussions about race and representation have been heated for a long time. Caitlin Clark has often been at the center of these debates. While Clark herself has openly acknowledged her “white privilege,” some fans think it’s the other way around, saying the league unfairly favors Black players over her.

Then, another stirred the pot by posting a screenshot of the birthday posts for A’ja Wilson and Angel Reese with the caption, “Just gonna leave these right here.” No extra words, no explanations because they didn’t need to. Fans immediately took it as a subtle jab at the WNBA for being “unfair” toward Clark. 

Meanwhile, someone else decided to re-share the Angel Reese post and added, “So they do post HBD 🥳.” These two have been compared nonstop, and fans are always ready to pit them against each other. So when Reese gets a shout out and Clark doesn’t? It does feel weird.

But it’s not just about this one birthday. Fans have long argued that the WNBA doesn’t do enough to uplift Caitlin Clark, even though she’s a marketing goldmine. One fan put it bluntly, “It is so sad that even now the WNBA can’t stand CC. Something needs to change starting with Commissioner CE. Then fire their entire woke media department. This is unacceptable.” 

Many believe that Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has consistently downplayed Clark’s efforts and doesn’t capitalize on her star power the way the league should. Still, some fans are holding out hope. As one person pointed out, “The day isn’t over yet.” 

Maybe the WNBA is just taking its time or maybe they’re scrambling after seeing the backlash. Either way, the clock is ticking, and fans aren’t going to let this slide quietly. We’ll see if the league finally drops a post.