It goes without saying that Caitlin Clark has had a huge impact on the WNBA’s rise in popularity in recent years, but the debate over her treatment in the league has only grown louder recently.
Former NFL MVP Boomer Esiason became the latest prominent voice to weigh in, suggesting that the Indiana Fever superstar should consider playing overseas if she continues to feel underappreciated in America despite her immense impact on women’s basketball.
Boomer Esiason Suggests Caitlin Clark Should Consider Playing Overseas
Speaking on his radio show “Boomer and Gio”, Esiason argued that Clark would be better off playing outside the United States, where she could receive greater appreciation than she currently receives in the WNBA.
“If I were Caitlin Clark, I would seriously consider going to play overseas somewhere and get the royal treatment and get real money,” Esiason said.
When the co-host Gregg Giannotti asked if it could be Saudi Arabia, Esiason replied, “from somewhere,” and then added, “Well, she can’t go to the Russians either, as we saw that Brittney Griner got stuck there [in jail].”
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Esiason acknowledged that Clark already earns substantial money through endorsement deals and sponsorships and noted that WNBA salaries have increased significantly in recent years. However, he still believes the Fever star would be treated better elsewhere.
“If I were Caitlin Clark, I would seriously consider going to play overseas somewhere and get the royal treatment…she’s a straight white basketball player. And she is not being treated with any sort of respect” – Boomer Esiason pic.twitter.com/zeFRdOMLVn
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 25, 2026
“But a lot of the women actually do play in European leagues because they supplement their income,” the 1988 NFL MVP and four-time Pro Bowler said. “But now, supposedly, their income is going up here.”
“And I know that Caitlin makes a ton of money off the court in terms of endorsements, and rightfully so,” he added, before suggesting many of her colleagues in the WNBA are jealous of her.
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“But I think that there’s a petty jealousy, and she’s a straight, white basketball player,” he opined. “And she is not being treated with any sort of respect whatsoever.”
Esiason’s comments come at a time of intense scrutiny of Clark’s treatment in the WNBA, particularly in recent days and weeks.
Most recently, Indiana head coach Stephanie White publicly criticized officials following a pair of physical games against her by the Phoenix Mercury. White called several missed calls involving Clark “egregious,” “dangerous,” and “absolutely unacceptable” after incidents involving Alyssa Thomas and other Mercury players.
Replays also showed that Thomas hit Clark on the neck in the scrum and later stepped over her. Clark later exited the rematch against Phoenix with a back injury.
“It’s insane how the WNBA allows the most important, influential, & popular player in league history to get treated like literal garbage. Caitlin Clark deserves better,” Outkick’s Jon Root even posted, reacting to the incident.
Off the court, Clark’s omission from the WNBA’s official 30th-anniversary commemorative poster also got called out. One reaction came from two-time Super Bowl champion LeSean McCoy, who even wondered whether there would be a WNBA if Clark decided to quit.
“I’m not gonna overreact over one little incident, but if you keep this stuff. there won’t be a WNBA,” McCoy said. “Yo, if Caitlin Clark says, ‘You know what, man, I’m done y’all…’ What would they do?”
“If Caitlin Clark keeps getting fouled like this, there won’t be a WNBA!”
– @CutonDime25 says if the WNBA doesn’t protect Caitlin Clark better, the league is going to dissolve
WE ARE LIVE RIGHT NOW ➡️ https://t.co/71DOlQim57 pic.twitter.com/Ja0fm9pkfM
— Speakeasy (@speakeasytlkshw) June 25, 2026
Whether Esiason’s comments are viewed as exaggerated or not, he is certainly not a lone voice on this matter. If this continues, the question could soon be: how would the WNBA look without the big superstar draw of Clark?
It’s sad the way the media rarely covers the many amazing womxn that have been drafted into the WNBA with as much or better skills, but no fan fare such as CC gets. At best CC has brought attention to womxn’s sports; yet still shows the bias or disregard for femxle athletes and sports. Thanks CC for your courage to boldly go where no other has.