It seems like we have a new story about Caitlin Clark, Sophia Cunningham, and the Indiana Fever every day, and today is no different.
Now, ION, which airs WNBA games, including a huge matchup between Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings facing off against the Fever, on Friday night.
WNBA World Calls Out ION for Snubbing Caitlin Clark
To promote the matchup, ION used a picture of Lexie Hall on their graphic instead of the Fever’s superstar MVP candidates, Clark and Kelsey Mitchell.
That predictably has Clark fans very upset.
Clark’s fans have earned a reputation for taking things a little too far, often calling for heads when Clark takes a foul and arguing that she should be on the free-throw line more often than she already is. Plus, that has helped create a section of fans who don’t want to hear any more about Clark, either because they weren’t fans in the first place or because of fatigue.
Fever center Aliyah Boston, a four-time All-Star, also was not featured. However, Clark’s loyal following and others in the WNBA took to social media to call out ION for their graphic.
Jon Root of Outkick dismissed the graphic simply as “click bait.”
“This is pure clickbait,” he said. “Promoting the Fever vs Wings with Lexi Hull & Raven Johnson, instead of Caitlin Clark & Kelsey Mitchell, is purely for engagement.”
This is pure clickbait…
Promoting the Fever vs Wings with Lexi Hull & Raven Johnson, instead of Caitlin Clark & Kelsey Mitchell, is purely for engagement. https://t.co/K5Ijcck9Hb
— Jon Root (@JonnyRoot_) August 14, 2026
He points out that Arike Ogunbowale and Bueckers, the Wings’ young star, were featured while the Fever featured Raven Johnson and Lexie Hull instead of Mitchell or Clark.
Maxx Zimonick also had a quick question about the picture. “[Expletive] is this!!!! The WNBA Media can just not make it more obvious,” Zimonick posted. “@IONWNBA This is embarrassing.”
WTF is this!!!! The WNBA Media can just not make it more obvious. @IONWNBA This is embarrassing. https://t.co/RJTuWxJveg
— Maxx (@MaxxZimonick) August 14, 2026
The CDS Sports Podcast doesn’t even believe this could be a real post. “This can’t be real,” they wrote. “This league man.”
This can’t be real. This league man. 🤣 https://t.co/u4cFpnUzKM
— CDS Sports Podcast (@cdssportspod) August 14, 2026
Add Dallas Jonesy to the list of people cackling at the graphic. “I’m crying, what is this graphic???”
I’m crying, what is this graphic??? https://t.co/lBM6pDGQBq
— Dallas (@DallasJonesy) August 14, 2026
Mike Higgins wondered why more high-level players weren’t featured.
“Paige Bueckers? Makes perfect sense,” Higgins explained. “She’s the clear draw on the Dallas side of this matchup. Lexie Hull and the Fever?!?! I’m a fan of Lexie’s, but this is just silly. Good Lord, the Fever had 3 All Star starters. Are you trying to suppress viewership?”
Although the complaints about the Fever and specifically Clark sometimes seem excessive on both ends of the spectrum, it does seem odd to have two potential MVP candidates on the Fever in Mitchell and Clark and not feature them.
Especially with so many up in arms with controversies surrounding the league that seem simply unnecessary and politically motivated, and take us away from the product on the court.
