The 2024 WNBA season soared to unprecedented heights, with Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese leading the charge in viewership, revenue, and fan engagement. But beneath the surface, toxic narratives began to poison the excitement, with racial slurs targeting all stars and venomous social media attacks flooding in. Even Hall of Famer Sue Bird admitted, “The WNBA has been fully aware of the racism and vitriol that has been running rampant among fans.” Yet, Commissioner Cathy Engelbert downplayed the issue. Now, with Paige Bueckers on the horizon, a national analyst is drawing a hard line: It has to stop.
And as the 2025 season begins to take shape, this is a critical moment in the history of the W, and analyst Rachael A. DeMita wants to make sure that it happens without any hitches. In a recent episode of Court Side Club, DeMita urged fans to change course: “I just urge everyone this season to please, because I’m seeing some of this stuff start to bubble up already on social media. Just the same toxic pattern like we saw last year with some of the things that people are saying. We can’t have another season of that.”
The sentiments echo the challenges of the previous year when racial tensions overshadowed the on-court drama. The rivalry between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, which gained national attention, spiraled into something else that had nothing to do with basketball, dividing fan bases and igniting controversies that were felt by the players themselves. And that didn’t stop with just Sky-Fever. DiJonai Carrington, for example, received death threats, while Alyssa Thomas opened up about the abuse, stating, “In my 11-year career, I’ve never experienced the racial comments from the Indiana Fever fanbase. It’s unacceptable, honestly, and there’s no place for it.”
Despite this turmoil, this year, unlike 2024, Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and the league are taking proactive steps to address the problem. Ahead of the 2025 WNBA Draft, Engelbert revealed the league’s response, saying, “We’ve assembled an off-season task force to address the problem, creating a multi-dimensional approach to combating hate and vitriol.” This plan includes monitoring social media using advanced technology, alongside strengthening conduct standards across all platforms. It’s a crucial move as the WNBA aims to ensure a safer and more inclusive environment for both players and fans alike.
And it’s not just the commissioner, even the franchise that, according to some, has the worst fans—the Indiana Fever—also echoed these sentiments. Head coach Stephanie White, speaking on The Good Follow program with Ros Gold-Onwude, addressed the impact of last season’s toxic climate on her players. “I think number one we got to be vocal about what’s acceptable and what’s not. Doesn’t mean that people are going to change. I think we’ve all been online enough to know that there’s a lot of hate out there. There’s a lot of vitriol out there.” This recognition marks a significant shift in the league’s approach to both online and in-person fan behavior, as they lay the groundwork for a more respectful future.
And the W needs to heed Demitas’ request because the 2025 season is set to be another record-breaking year, just like 2024. Want to know why? Well, it’s because the league has made significant strides in viewership. For example, the 2025 WNBA Draft broadcast peaked at 1.46 million viewers, making it the most-watched TV program for adults under 35 this year. While that’s a drop from the previous year’s Caitlin Clark-driven peak of 2.4 million, it still represents a huge leap from the 601,000 viewers who tuned into the 2004 draft.
And here’s the twist: Despite the absence of heavy-hitters like Cameron Brink, Clark, or Angel Reese, the draft itself became a landmark moment for the league. Looking ahead, with high-profile matchups like Clark vs. Reese and Clark vs. Bueckers, it’s clear the WNBA’s momentum isn’t slowing down.
Paige Bueckers Is Powering the WNBA’s Sales Boom
And Paige Bueckers has boosted it further by emerging as one of the most commercially promising stars in women’s basketball. Selected first overall by the Dallas Wings in the 2025 WNBA Draft, Bueckers brings with her not only elite on-court talent but also major off-court appeal. Her marketability has long been established with a nil valuation of 1.4 to 1.5 million $ — she was the first female college athlete to sign with Gatorade in the NIL era and landed deals with brands like StockX and Crocs while still at UConn.
NCAA, College League, USA Womens Basketball: Final Four National Championship Apr 6, 2025 Tampa, FL, USA Connecticut Huskies guard Paige Bueckers 5 speaks to the media after the national championship of the women s 2025 NCAA tournament against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Amalie Arena. Tampa Amalie Arena FL USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xKirbyxLeex 20250406_hlf_al2_0261
Now in the WNBA, her popularity is translating directly into merchandise sales. Within weeks of the draft, Bueckers’ Dallas Wings jersey became one of the most in-demand across the league. According to Forbes.com, her jersey ranks just behind Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese — both of whom dominated 2024’s merchandise charts. This signals that Bueckers is set to be a long-term rival to Clark, not just in competition, but in commercial reach as well.
In the collectibles market, Paige Bueckers is already turning heads. PSA has graded 6,400 of her cards since the start of 2025 — an eye-catching figure that ranks her third among all WNBA players, despite being just months into her rookie season. To put that in perspective, Caitlin Clark leads the charge with over 105,000 graded cards, while fellow 2024 rookie Angel Reese follows with 7,200. Bueckers’ rookie cards are quickly becoming hot commodities, fueled by her massive college following and the buzz surrounding her early pro performances. With collectors betting on her future milestones, her trading card stock is rising faster than many veteran stars.
With a massive social media following, strong personal brand, and loyal college fanbase transitioning into the pros, Bueckers is more than just a top draft pick — she’s a cornerstone of the WNBA’s next commercial era.
The post WNBA Community Given Paige Bueckers Directive as National Analyst Clears Stance on Toxic Caitlin Clark Situation appeared first on EssentiallySports.