Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese’s pay raise may hit a wall any time soon. While that’s still under clouds, the WNBA has recently caught a stray with a rather unusual personality.
As negotiations around the WNBA’s next collective bargaining agreement continue, debate over player compensation has intensified. Into that conversation stepped political commentator Pearl Davis, whose remarks this week drew swift backlash.
Pearl Davis Thinks Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese & WNBA Players Deserve Less Pay
Recently, appearing on the Journalisming podcast, Davis, also known as “female Andrew Tate,” argued that the WNBA should pay its players less and framed her position around what she described as entitlement and lack of interest.
She went further by singling out Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, suggesting their visibility stems from rivalry-driven drama rather than on-court quality.
“I think they (WNBA players) deserve less money,” she said. “Because I’ve seen the entitlement firsthand. Like, I was in those gyms, so I know nobody’s going.”
"I think WNBA players deserve less money"
— Jack Mac (@JackMac) January 29, 2026
"Caitlin Clark is famous because she went back and forth with Angel Reese"
"Nobody wants to go and watch them miss layups"
I went to Dallas to find out if Pearl Davis is a grifter or not.
Journalisming Episode 2 is LIVE on my YT! pic.twitter.com/HG5Hw12XpN
Scroll to continue reading
Trending WNBA News
According to Davis, the media attention follows controversy and social media engagement, not basketball performance. However, the comments landed amid a moment of measurable growth for the league.
Since Clark entered the WNBA, national viewership and attendance have climbed sharply, with multiple broadcasts setting recent highs. Reese’s arrival and the continuation of their college-era rivalry have also translated into must-watch matchups at the professional level. Together, they have become central figures in the league’s expanding reach.
While Davis has previously drawn attention for contrarian views on women’s sports, this instance struck a nerve, given the timing of labor talks and the visibility of the league’s young stars.
Elle Duncan Makes Bold Caitlin Clark Comment
As the discourse intensified, former ESPN anchor Elle Duncan offered a contrasting perspective on how women’s basketball should be discussed and promoted.
Speaking on the Awful Announcing podcast, Duncan addressed a recent episode in which a WNBA social post highlighting Clark was removed after hostile reactions in the comments.
Duncan argued the backlash revealed a deeper issue in how women’s sports handle stardom.
“You should celebrate Caitlin,” Duncan said. “I think with women in general, there’s this idea that if you exceptionalize one woman, you have to acknowledge every other woman that came before her. We don’t have to break off the crown and give every single little person a piece.”
Celebrating an exceptional player, she said, should not require constant caveats or comparisons meant to redistribute attention.