The league announced the 2026 schedule in January, while broadcasters also slowly began releasing their WNBA game schedules, with multiple channels airing games. While most broadcasters tried to cover as many games as possible, Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever set a record for the second consecutive year, with all 44 games on television.
While Clark made her intentions clear that she will not be sitting out in the practice and certainly play in all the games, fans are clearly happy about the coverage. But Analyst Jason Whitlock found one flaw in the Fever’s celebratory post.
Jason Whitlock Slams Indiana Fever’s Treatment Of Caitlin Clark
The 2024 season was like a ‘test season’ for the WNBA, and the league enjoyed massive success, banking on its popularity rising in 2024. In 2025, the Dallas Wings and Fever teams even ruled the social media, making it clear who the real attraction point in the league was.
But when the Indiana franchise broke the 44-game news, they put Kelsey Mitchell at the center and Clark on the sides, which bothered Whitlock. In a recent interview, he said, “The Indiana Fever announced that all 44 of their games will be on national television, and on the promo, they had Kelsey Mitchell front and center instead of Caitlin Clark. This is intentional—the WNBA continues to kill Caitlin with paper cuts rather than embrace her.”
The Indiana Fever announced that all 44 of their games will be on national television, and on the promo, they had Kelsey Mitchell front and center instead of Caitlin Clark. This is intentional—the WNBA continues to kill Caitlin with paper cuts rather than embrace her. pic.twitter.com/m8elgrUryO
— Jason Whitlock (@jasonwhitlock) April 23, 2026
There had been constant talk about the league looking to belittle the Clark effect, and analysts like Whitelock had constantly criticized it on the same grounds.
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Interestingly, though, the player herself wants a reduced workload in the 2026 season, as she spoke about it on the media day.
Caitlin Clark Opens Up On Possible New Role With Indiana Fever
The Indiana Fever have the toughest fixtures in the 2026 season, and to succeed in the season on all fronts, the side needs to manage CC’s minutes and role. This will also positively impact her health, and it’s thought from none other than the former Iowa star.
“It is exhausting, bringing the ball up 94 feet versus pressure every single time. So, we certainly need to find somebody that can handle the ball a little bit and give me a little bit of a break,” the Fever playmaker told the media.
Caitlin is excited to play off the ball more 🔥
— Just Women’s Sports (@justwsports) April 22, 2026
(via @chloepeterson67) pic.twitter.com/QpHAo6gEjJ
The idea would be to lessen the load and allow the player to thrive in the 2026 season. Sadly, this adjustment would mean that there might be fewer ‘ long passes’ from the instrumental playmaker who made the highlight reel in the 2025 season.