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“The @WNBA and their refs allowing Caitlin Clark to get mugged every damn night. She packs the stands, she gives you record tv numbers.”

“I’m not exactly sure why, it just is what it is,” she said. “We’ve got to help her learn to adjust and use it against them in certain ways. We’ve got to find some ways to make it a little easier for her.”

I officiated my first basketball game in the early 1960’s in my pre-teens calling the very youthful. I watched the amateur game during it’s transitions that has turned the sport from a game of passing, shooting, and strategy immolating the NBA into a fist fight with boundaries and few rules. As the players got bigger, stronger, and less talented, the league started protecting those that filled the seats.

But with the desperate shirt tailing situation with the WNBA of former failed leagues they have tried to create the same mystique of greatness with their player right away that it took the NBA years to move away from i.e. the team distinction. So what you are seeing is the WNBA trying to grow up to the big bucks ahead if it’s time. Clark is one of the first of the stars to sell as has been noted. They need more like her before they can afford to challenge each team’s star physically like the NBA does.

Interesting that the NBA style of physicality has morphed down to college and high school competitions. And the problem is well displayed with a movie statement, “must learn walk then learn fly.” And they feel the growth is in the gladiator style trying to create challenges to their most successful star yet: the thug off the street.

wy69