Emmanuel Acho says the WNBA would be ‘better off’ without Caitlin Clark despite her record
Caitlin Clark was hit in the throat during a WNBA loose-ball scramble, prompting a backlash and suspension of the game.
WNBA star Caitlin Clark was hit in the throat while chasing a loose ball, sparking outrage and a one-game suspension for Alyssa Thomas. Fox News’ Garrett Tenney reports on the ‘totally unacceptable’ incident and the coach’s reaction. Political analyst Gianno Caldwell discusses Clark’s huge impact on WNBA audiences, including the $2.2 billion deal, and the role of gender and race in the debate.
Apparently, Caitlin Clark’s services are no longer needed.
At least that’s the conclusion Emmanuel Acho reached this week when he said the WNBA would actually be “better off” without her — despite repeatedly acknowledging that Clark is the main reason the league has enjoyed unprecedented popularity and financial success in the first place.
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Emmanuel Acho speaks on stage during the ADL Never Is Now Conference at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City on March 17, 2026. (Noam Galai/Getty Images)
The former NFL player made the comments on his “Speakeasy” podcast while discussing the ongoing controversy surrounding Clark’s handling of opponents, most recently an incident involving Phoenix Mercury star Alyssa Thomas.
“IW, in this meeting over time, will be better off without Caitlin Clark because she’s more of a distraction than an addition,” Acho said.
He continued:
“Caitlin Clark got the WNBA more than it needed to. Now, people are watching. Now, we’re seeing that there’s a talent at the W that’s much bigger than Caitlin Clark…
“Caitlin got the necessary eyes there, but now that the eyes are there, we don’t need any more.”
And then came the most surprising part of the argument:
“Caitlin Clark has reached WNBA players in the Red Sea. Chartered flights, new CBA, big new contracts. With all due respect, if Caitlin disappeared from the W, she wouldn’t be missed.”
That’s one way to thank the person most responsible for increasing your visibility, TV ratings and revenue.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clar reacts after a foul was called during the first half against the Portland Fire at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, on May 30, 2026. (Ali Gradischer/Getty Images)
His argument boils down to this: Caitlin Clark served her purpose, helped the league and its players make a lot of money, and now she should kindly a— out.
That seems not only ungrateful and ungrateful, but hastily disconnected from reality.
Clark’s arrival in 2024 changed the WNBA. The audience erupted. Television ratings broke records. Sales of goods have increased. The league has signed a media rights deal worth more than $3 billion. The revenue has grown enough to start sharing money with players. Charter flights became permanent. Under the new collective bargaining agreement, average player salaries are increasing more than 450%, with the league’s top stars making more than $1.5 million a year.
And none of that happened without Caitlin Clark.
Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas struggles to get up over Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark during a game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on June 24, 2026. The Phoenix Mercury defeated the Indiana Fever 111-109. (USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)
Does that mean other stars don’t matter? Of course not.
But pretending the league has passed its prime three years after its arrival is absurd.
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The conversation came after another controversy involving Clark. Last week, Mercury player Alyssa Thomas was suspended for one game and fined $1,000 following an incident in which Thomas punched Clark in the throat during a dispute over a loose ball.
The game revived a familiar debate: Was Clark targeted?
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham thinks so.
“You see videos of real and cheap kneeling [Clark] throat… they mean him and the league and the management are doing nothing to protect him,” Cunningham said on his podcast.
Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham of Indiana Fever. (Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
Whether you agree with Cunningham or not, it cannot be denied that the WNBA’s current level of success is directly related to the arrival of Caitlin Clark.
You could argue that he doesn’t deserve special treatment. You could argue that officials shouldn’t treat games differently on his account.
What you cannot reasonably argue is that the WNBA would somehow be “better” without the player who has generated more interest, more money and more attention than anyone in the history of the league.
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The WNBA may not want to admit how much it needs Caitlin Clark.
But the numbers certainly do.
