June 3, 2024

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Just three weeks into the WNBA season, there’s already a backlash forming to the Caitlin Clark phenomenon, raising new questions for the league. … The Premier League’s Everton is back on the market after the formal collapse of a proposed sale to 777 Partners, but new suitors are already lining up for the club. … The Vikings’ Justin Jefferson resets the NFL compensation market for wide receivers and makes bigger history in the process. … Plus: More on the Bills, World Athletics, USA Cricket, and CBS.

— Eric Fisher [[link removed]] and David Rumsey [[link removed]]

Is the Caitlin Clark Phenomenon Posing Issues for the WNBA? [[link removed]]

The Indianapolis Star

Is perhaps the biggest force to hit the WNBA now becoming a problem? Just three weeks into the 2024 season, the Caitlin Clark phenomenon has given way to a rapidly escalating level of infighting within the league, heightened scrutiny over officiating, and public criticism over the rookie star’s skills.

Rough Play and Tough Talk

The weekend sports conversation was dominated by a flagrant body check [[link removed]] that Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter levied upon the Indiana Fever’s Clark in a Saturday game, knocking the rookie to the floor. After the foul was retroactively raised to a flagrant 1 status, the heated debate continued across sports-talk radio and television and, most critically, within the WNBA itself.

Fever general manager Lin Dunn took to X after the game, posting [[link removed]] that “there’s a difference between tough defense and unnecessary-targeting actions! It needs to stop! The league needs to ‘clean up’ the crap! That’s NOT who this league is.” To this end, the Fever have submitted multiple plays from prior games for league review involving hard fouls on Clark.

Carter, meanwhile, posted on Threads that she’s not all that impressed with Clark’s game, writing [[link removed]] “besides three-point shooting what does she bring to the table, man?”

Mounting Questions

Amid the still-growing number of hot takes [[link removed]], the WNBA is now facing many pressing questions. After Clark has fueled [[link removed]] a series of meteoric increases [[link removed]] in attendance and television viewership—including the Fever already topping [[link removed]] their 2023 attendance total—to what degree should the historic economic driver be protected on the court? Will the heightened physicality and trash talking drive away fans, particularly the new ones just drawn in by Clark? And is jealousy and all of the attention Clark has received over her income, including a Nike deal reportedly worth [[link removed]] $28 million, contributing to the drama playing out with other WNBA players?

On the latter point, former NBA guard Austin Rivers says envy within the WNBA is definitely a factor—and needs to stop.

“For the longest time, the WNBA was synonymous with losing money, their athletes not being compensated properly, their athletes not being treated properly, and their brand of basketball … not really garnering proper attention,” Rivers said in a four-minute video post [[link removed]] on X. “Now, this woman comes along and brings the world in and is now giving you that proper attention and respect. … And instead of being appreciative and acknowledging that, you guys are coming at her with these hate-ass comments.”

Too Much Too Soon?

Part of the intense focus around Clark and the Fever also stems from a simple quirk of the schedule, as Indiana played 11 games in the span of just 20 days, becoming just the second team in WNBA history to do so since 2007. Some of these schedule anomalies stem from a compression created by the upcoming Paris Olympics, when the WNBA will take a monthlong break. But the Fever’s 11 games played leads the league and is nearly twice the six played to date by the two-time defending WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces.

“These guys are not just physically exhausted, they’re mentally exhausted,” said Fever coach Christie Sides after a Sunday blowout loss to the New York Liberty, a game in which Clark scored just three points. “It’s just been a lot. This is different than anything we’ve ever experienced.”

Everton’s Takeover Is Dead. Another U.S. Investor Is Already Interested [[link removed]]

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

The complicated saga of an American investment firm attempting to take over English Premier League club Everton is finally over. An agreement for Miami-based 777 Partners to purchase a majority stake in Everton from its parent company, Blue Heaven Holdings Limited, has expired, the club announced.

How the Deal Broke Down

In September, 777—which already had stakes in six other soccer clubs [[link removed]] around the world, like LaLiga’s Sevilla—struck a deal to acquire Everton [[link removed]] at a reported valuation of roughly $685 million. The takeover was set to be completed by the end of 2023, but it never received regulatory approval because 777 didn’t provide audited financial statements [[link removed]] to the U.K.’s Financial Conduct Authority. In May, a British asset management company sued 777 over fraud [[link removed]].

Now, Everton is officially back on the market, and all indications are that the club’s majority shareholder, Farhad Moshiri (who owns 94.1% via the aforementioned holding company), intends to find a new buyer. “The club will continue to operate as usual, while it works with Blue Heaven Holdings to assess all options for the club’s future ownership,” a statement from Everton read.

A Steep Price Tag

Last week, before 777’s agreement even expired, another U.S. investor made their interest in Everton known: John Textor, a minority owner of Crystal Palace, which finished 10th in the EPL this season. Textor, whose Eagles Football Holdings has stakes in five clubs worldwide, told The Athletic [[link removed]] he wants to become a majority owner of an EPL team, and some conversations with Everton have already happened. “Everton represents the best of English football: the struggles, the glory, the want,” he said. “I love that it’s out of London. Everybody should want to buy Everton right now. That kind of club is what I’m referring to.”

The Athletic estimated it would cost around $955 million to buy Everton, reduce debts, complete construction of a new $700 million stadium [[link removed]], and put together a squad competitive enough to stay in the EPL. Everton finished 15th this season—three spots above relegation—after enduring a penalty of six points [[link removed]] (which are worth winning two matches) for breaching financial fair play rules. That price point is almost $300 million more than Everton’s valuation last fall when 777 first struck its takeover deal.

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ONE BIG FIG Creating Separation

Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

$140 million

Total value of the new four-year contract extension for Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson (above, left), making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL. Jefferson’s career earnings since being selected in the first round of the 2020 draft are $13.29 million. His new deal will include $110 million in guaranteed money, with an average annual salary of $35 million, according to multiple reports, including ESPN. [[link removed]]

STATUS REPORT Three Up, One Down

Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Bills ⬆ The team is developing a bid for the 2028 NFL draft, designed to showcase the opening of its new stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., under construction and set to open in two years. Buffalo’s push for the event thematically follows the recent awarding [[link removed]] of the draft in ’26 to Pittsburgh, and in other years to cities [[link removed]] that are not candidates to host a Super Bowl. “We think the city of Buffalo would be absolutely perfect for this type of event,” said team EVP and COO Pete Guelli to The Buffalo News [[link removed]].

Track and field ⬆ World Athletics, the international governing body for various running-focused sports, announced a new season-ending global championship to begin in 2026. The World Athletics Ultimate Championship will offer a record $10 million in prize money, with gold medalists set to receive $150,000.

USA Cricket ⬆ The U.S. beat Canada on Saturday in the opening match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which is being hosted in the U.S. and West Indies [[link removed]]. An estimated crowd [[link removed]] of 6,000 fans was on hand in Texas at Grand Prairie Stadium, which has a capacity of 7,200 for cricket. Next up, the U.S. will take on Pakistan at the same venue Thursday.

CBS ⬇ During the network’s final-round coverage of the PGA Tour’s RBC Canadian Open on Sunday, eventual winner Robert MacIntyre (above, left) could be heard on the live broadcast complaining [[link removed]] about a drone camera getting too close. Jim Nantz then announced to viewers that CBS would be backing the drone away from the golfer.

Conversation Starters The Dodgers sold out a “Pups in the Park” event for Sunday night’s game against the Rockies. With plenty of four-legged friends in the stands, Los Angeles won 4–0. Take a look [[link removed]]. PGA Tour golfer C.T. Pan needed a substitute on his bag midway through the final round of the RBC Canadian Open after his full-time caddie fell and injured himself. That gave one lucky fan the chance of a lifetime. See who stepped in [[link removed]]. The Tri-City Chili Peppers, a collegiate summer baseball team in Virginia, played a game of “Cosmic Baseball,” wearing glow-in-the-dark uniforms under black lights. Look here [[link removed]]. Editors’ Picks Panthers Propose $800 Million in Bank of America Stadium Renovations [[link removed]]by Alex Schiffer [[link removed]]The Carolina Panthers would be on the hook for maintenance and overruns. Fever Break Last Season’s Total Home Attendance in Just Five Games [[link removed]]by Margaret Fleming [[link removed]]The team owns the league’s highest-average attendance at home and away. English Women’s Soccer Investment Is Uncharted Territory but Could Be ‘Spectacularly Successful’ [[link removed]]by Margaret Fleming [[link removed]]Chelsea will look to sell a minority stake in its women’s team. Advertise [[link removed]] Awards [[link removed]] Learning [[link removed]] Video [[link removed]] Podcast [[link removed]] Sports Careers [[link removed]] Written by Eric Fisher [[link removed]], David Rumsey [[link removed]] Edited by Matthew Tabeek [[link removed]], Catherine Chen [[link removed]]

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