The ongoing storm surrounding Napheesa Collier’s explosive comments about the WNBA and commissioner Cathy Engelbert has now dragged Caitlin Clark into the middle of the controversy — and her silence is what has everyone talking.

In her statement, Collier directly name-dropped Clark as part of her frustrations, suggesting the league was prioritizing some stars over others. Yet, despite the firestorm, Clark has stayed completely silent, and it’s driving longtime WNBA fans absolutely furious.

For older fans of the league — those who have supported the WNBA since its early days in the late 1990s and early 2000s — Clark’s lack of a public comment feels like a slap in the face. These fans have always seen themselves as protectors of the league’s integrity, priding themselves on supporting players when women’s basketball got little attention.

To them, Clark is not just another star, she’s the centerpiece of a media machine they feel has often overshadowed veterans and disrespected the foundation they built. By not speaking out, they believe Clark is turning her back on the responsibility that comes with her massive platform.

The frustration is amplified by the way Collier framed her comments. She suggested that while Clark may not personally be at fault, the league’s handling of her rise has created division and resentment.

By putting Clark’s name in the mix, Collier essentially forced her into the narrative, and fans expected at least some kind of acknowledgment. Instead, Clark has chosen silence, leaving speculation to swirl about whether she’s avoiding controversy or simply doesn’t care.

Social media has become a battlefield over this. Old-school WNBA fans are venting across platforms like X and Facebook, calling Clark’s silence “cowardly” and “selfish.” One fan wrote, “If she wants to be the face of the league, then she better be ready to defend ALL the players, not just hide when things get uncomfortable.

” Another said, “We stuck with this league when nobody cared. Caitlin Clark can’t even comment when a legend like Napheesa Collier drops her name? That’s not leadership.”

Meanwhile, Clark’s supporters — a massive and younger demographic that has flooded into the WNBA thanks to her popularity — are defending her decision to stay quiet. They argue that she owes no one a statement and that she is wise to avoid wading into the drama.

“She’s a rookie, not a politician,” one fan tweeted. “Her job is to hoop, not play PR for a league that can’t handle its own problems.” This generational divide is fueling a bigger debate about what players “owe” the league and its fans as the WNBA undergoes rapid change.

Collier’s name-drop of Clark has also been analyzed by media pundits, who wonder if it was a calculated move. On ESPN, Stephen A. Smith argued that Collier was trying to force Clark into the conversation whether she wanted it or not.

“You drop Caitlin Clark’s name, you know exactly what’s gonna happen,” he said. “It puts her in the middle of the storm, and now she’s damned if she speaks and damned if she doesn’t.” This has left Clark in a near-impossible position — speak and risk fanning the flames, or stay silent and face backlash from veteran fans.

The WNBA itself has done little to calm the situation, with commissioner Cathy Engelbert already under heavy criticism. Engelbert’s lack of strong leadership has left players to battle it out publicly, while the league office seems absent.

This vacuum of authority only makes Clark’s silence louder, as fans look to her as the next great star who should step up where leadership has failed. But Clark, who has carefully crafted her image as focused and drama-free, appears unwilling to get dragged into league politics, at least publicly.

What makes older fans particularly angry is that they feel Clark’s silence reflects a lack of respect for the struggles that came before her. Veterans like Tamika Catchings, Lisa Leslie, and Sheryl Swoopes often spoke out about league issues, even when it wasn’t popular.

They see Collier’s willingness to criticize leadership as part of that tradition, and they expected Clark to respond in kind. By not doing so, Clark is being framed by critics as more interested in protecting her brand than standing in solidarity with her peers.

On the other side, some analysts argue that Clark is playing the long game. By staying quiet, she avoids giving media outlets more fuel for controversy and keeps the focus on her performance on the court.

With her massive endorsement deals and crossover appeal, any comment she made would dominate headlines for weeks, overshadowing not just Collier’s concerns but the entire playoff narrative. In that sense, her silence could be seen not as cowardice but as strategy.

Still, the anger from long-time fans cannot be ignored. Many of them see themselves as the core base that kept the league alive through lean years, and they feel Clark’s popularity risks alienating them. The idea that she won’t even address being name-dropped by a star like Collier feels, to them, like a betrayal. Whether or not that’s fair, it highlights the tension between the “old guard” of WNBA fandom and the new wave of supporters Clark has brought in.

At the heart of the issue is the question of responsibility. Should Clark be expected to comment just because she was name-dropped, or does she have the right to protect her own peace and avoid controversy? The debate shows no signs of slowing down, and with each day she remains silent, the pressure only builds.

The longer she waits, the more polarizing her decision will become — with one side praising her for staying above the noise and the other condemning her as out of touch with the league’s culture.

For now, Caitlin Clark continues to practice, play, and avoid addressing the storm around her. But the reality is that Collier’s words have created a ripple effect that cannot be undone. Whether Clark likes it or not, she has become part of this larger conversation about leadership, responsibility, and the direction of the WNBA.

Her silence may be strategic, but to many longtime fans, it feels like abandonment. And that fury may linger long after this controversy dies down, shaping how some fans view her for the rest of her career.