WNBA: Clark fatigue, Aces falling short and other disappointments

Expectations can lead to disappointment, and that’s certainly true in a few situations this WNBA season. Here are three of the most disappointing storylines so far:

Caitlin Clark fatigue

I have the attention on Clark as both a surprise and a disappointment. Seeing the league get an influx of attention has been a joy. However, it’s been disappointing watching people use Clark to push their own agendas in ways that often feel sexist and racist.

I hope that as the season continues, I’ll be less and less disappointed with the drama created by Clark’s existence. She’s really just playing basketball and doing well, so if people can enjoy her game and the league’s talent, we can all get along. If not, this may be an ongoing trend for years.

What’s up with the Aces?

Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

The Aces used to be considered THE superpower in the WNBA, but they’ve looked pedestrian this year. Currently 11-6, the Aces have already matched their loss total for last year. And with the Minnesota Lynx surprising us all as a top-four team and the Commissioner’s Cup champions, suddenly, not only do the Aces look beatable, they also aren’t the favorites to win it all.

Now, it should be noted that Vegas was missing Chelsea Gray for most of the season, and with the Point Gawd returning, they’ve looked much better, winning five-straight games. Still, if they continue to struggle to stack up wins and the dynasty talk ends not with a three-peat but with a whimper in the playoffs, it will be hard not to be disappointed in the Aces.

The losers are losing

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In the WNBA, there is no middle class, just the haves and the have-nots. In 2024, the gap between the two categories has increased, with three teams currently with a winning percentage below .300. Last year, only two teams ended the season with winning percentages that low.

This is the most competitive league in the basketball world, and that competitiveness means that if you don’t have three or more All-Star-caliber players, you have no chance of winning games on a nightly basis. Unfortunately, the Los Angeles Sparks, Washington Mystics and Dallas Wings fall into that category, and that’s disappointing.

Hopefully, as the league grows, so will cap space and roster size so we can have a bit more balance. At this point, it feels like these three teams have no hope for this season and are already jockeying for position in the Paige Bueckers sweepstakes. That’s not ideal, with over half of the season remaining to play.