A recent Gatorade commercial featuring several WNBA stars has sparked a firestorm of criticism, with fans across social media and online forums calling the ad tone-deaf, poorly executed, and out of touch with the league’s most popular players.

The backlash has been swift and fierce, with many pointing out the glaring absence of Caitlin Clark — the Indiana Fever sensation whose meteoric rise has made her the face of women’s basketball.

While the ad was intended to promote Gatorade’s latest campaign and celebrate the WNBA’s growing popularity, it has instead become a PR nightmare for the brand, further amplified by Clark’s own merchandise sales hitting an impressive $660,000 in the 48 hours following the ad’s release.

The commercial, which was released across major networks and social media platforms, features a group of WNBA players engaging in a stylized, slow-motion training session set to dramatic music.

The ad attempts to highlight the intensity, athleticism, and dedication of the league’s stars, but many fans say it fell flat — both visually and emotionally. Critics argue that the production quality looked more like a student film than a major brand campaign, with awkward camera angles, over-the-top acting, and what many described as “cheesy” voiceover narration.

But the biggest issue for fans was not the quality of the ad — it was who was left out. Caitlin Clark, who has been the driving force behind the WNBA’s recent surge in popularity, was notably absent from the campaign.

Instead, the ad focused on a mix of veteran and mid-tier players, some of whom have significantly smaller followings and less cultural impact than Clark, who has broken every viewership and merchandise record since entering the league.

Fans were quick to notice the omission. On platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Reddit, the hashtag #WhereIsCaitlin began trending within hours of the ad’s release.

Many users accused Gatorade of failing to recognize the biggest name in the sport and questioned whether the brand had done its due diligence in crafting a campaign meant to celebrate the WNBA.

“Gatorade made an ad about the WNBA without Caitlin Clark?” one fan tweeted. “That’s like making an ad about coffee and not including Starbucks.”

Others were more pointed in their criticism, suggesting that the decision to exclude Clark was not just a mistake, but a strategic misstep that could cost the brand millions in missed opportunities.

“Clark is the reason people are watching the WNBA right now,” another fan wrote. “She’s the reason your ad even has an audience. Ignoring her is like ignoring gravity.”

In response to the backlash, Gatorade issued a brief statement acknowledging the criticism and emphasizing that the ad was meant to highlight a diverse group of players rather than focusing on any one individual.

“We love and support all WNBA athletes,” the statement read. “This campaign was designed to celebrate the collective strength, talent, and passion of the league as a whole.”

However, that explanation did little to quell the growing frustration. Many fans argued that while it’s important to celebrate the entire league, it’s also impossible to ignore the reality of who is driving the current wave of interest.

Caitlin Clark has not only brought in record-breaking TV ratings, but she has also become a cultural icon — a symbol of the rise of women’s sports in the mainstream media.

The irony of the situation was not lost on fans when, just days after the release of the poorly received ad, Caitlin Clark’s merchandise sales hit an impressive $660,000 in just two days.

That figure, which came from official WNBA retail partners, highlighted the stark contrast between Gatorade’s campaign and the actual market demand. While the brand tried to promote the WNBA through a generic, one-size-fits-all approach, Clark continued to prove that she was the league’s most valuable and marketable asset.

Clark’s representatives have not publicly commented on the ad or the controversy surrounding it. However, sources close to her camp suggest that she remains focused on her game and her growing brand partnerships — which include deals with major companies like Nike, State Farm, and Google. These partnerships have been carefully curated to reflect her image as a trailblazer, a leader, and a unifying force in women’s sports.

The backlash against Gatorade’s ad has also reignited a broader conversation about how brands approach marketing in women’s sports. Many critics argue that companies like Gatorade are still operating under outdated assumptions — treating the WNBA as a niche league rather than the rapidly growing force it has become.

They also point out that while male athletes in the NBA and NFL are often given individualized, high-budget campaigns that highlight their personal brands, female athletes are still being treated as a collective rather than as individual stars.

“This isn’t just about one ad,” said one sports marketing analyst. “This is about how brands view women’s sports as a whole. They’re still hesitant to invest in individual athletes the way they do in men’s leagues.

And when they make a move like this — leaving out the biggest name in the sport — it shows they don’t really understand the audience they’re trying to reach.”

The WNBA itself has remained largely silent on the controversy, though league insiders say they are monitoring the situation closely. With the league’s popularity at an all-time high, there is growing pressure on sponsors to be more strategic and inclusive in their marketing efforts. And with Caitlin Clark leading the charge, the stakes have never been higher.

As of now, Gatorade has not announced any plans to reshoot or re-release the ad with Clark included. But given the intensity of the backlash, many fans are hopeful that the brand will take swift action to correct its mistake.

In the meantime, Clark continues to dominate on the court and in the marketplace — proving once again that when it comes to women’s basketball, she is the undeniable face of the future.

The failed ad may have been a misstep, but it also served as a powerful reminder of one undeniable truth: in today’s WNBA, you can’t talk about the league without talking about Caitlin Clark. And brands that fail to recognize that reality do so at their own risk.