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 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 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 “besides three-point shooting what does she bring to the table, man?”

Mounting Questions

Amid the still-growing number of hot takes, the WNBA is now facing many pressing questions. After Clark has fueled a series of meteoric increases in attendance and television viewership—including the Fever already topping 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 $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 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.”

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 around the world, like LaLiga’s Sevilla—struck a deal to acquire Everton 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 to the U.K.’s Financial Conduct Authority. In May, a British asset management company sued 777 over fraud.

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 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, 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 (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.