Latest Caitlin Clark controversy plays into the worst stereotypes about women and wages war on merit

The “W” in the WNBA is supposed to stand for “women” — but lately, it feels like it means “whiny.”Even before Caitlin Clark put on an Indiana Fever jerseylast spring, there was a nonstop effort from a certain camp of pundits, media and other players to racialize her, smear her, and diminish both her ability on the court and the steroidal growth she alone has infused into the league.The latest temper tantrum is from Washington Mystics co-owner and multi-millionaire Sheila Johnson, who went on CNN over the weekend to cry about Clark being recognized as Time’s Athlete of the Year — the first ever WNBA star to earn the distinction.“While Caitlin Clark is undoubtedly talented, putting one individual on such a pedestal can foster resentment in a team sport like basketball,” said Johnson.“It doesn’t reflect the collective efforts that make the game so special … When you just keep singling out one player, it creates hard feelings.”Wah.

As a businesswoman, Johnson should be showing gratitude — not resentment.Instead, she advocated for a participation trophy, asking why Time “couldn’t have put the whole WNBA on that cover.” But without Clark, who was named rookie of the year, the league isn’t even sniffing a fraction of the relevance it’s enjoyed since she was drafted first overall by the Fever.In Johnson’s appeal for equity — a poisonous principle in itself — she painted a demeaning portrait of females.The league has been sold as a showcase of hard-nosed, physical basketball and unrelenting competition, and one that only needed exposure to catch on and become as big as the NBA.But here is Johnson, essentially saying these lady ballers are really lady bawlers: emotionally weak, thin skinned, jealous and petty.So which is it?Was Johnson upset when the Mystics moved their September 19 game against the Fever from their 4,200-seat home venue to DC’s Capital One Arena — where 20,711 fans showed up, the largest crowd in W...