Caitlin Clark, Sophie Cunningham, their supporting cast, rival players and neurotic fans and critics combined to form a perfect storm of cultural chaos.It pushed the WNBA to new heights in TV ratings and attendance, all while driving two sides of America further apart in a deepening cultural divide, sparking often-emotional debates on race and sexuality, day after day.WNBA COMMISSIONER CATHY ENGELBERT TO RETIRE AT END OF CALENDAR YEAR, ENDING CONTROVERSIAL TENUREThe entire WNBA will be coming out of the season a completely different league than what it was going into 2026, as there will be a change in commissioner, all while two former NBA players are now declared for the 2027 draft.Here's how it all went down.The Fever entered 2026 with championship expectations.Clark was preparing to return after injuries limited her to just 13 games last year, as Cunningham was returning from injury too.Kelsey Mitchell and Lexie Hull re-signed to reunite the core that carried to the brink of the 2025 Finals.
The Fever also added veterans Monique Billings, Tyasha Harris and Myisha Hines-Allen and drafted South Carolina guard Raven Johnson with the No.10 pick.Before training camp, Hull, who had become a fan-favorite in 2025, told Fox News Digital what it was like living inside the Clark-generated media spotlight that began in 2024."The most challenging part is there's just so much scrutiny," Hull said.
"People need to know that everyone's human.We're real people.
I think when things get blown out of proportion, when things get really personal and there's personal attacks on people's character, I think that's where it gets over the line."Hull disputed the idea that opponents had necessarily become more physical with Clark, arguing that social media magnified every collision and missed call.But she acknowledged that the Fever’s massive following gave opponents extra motivation whenever Indiana came to town.The attention also came with an upside.
Hull told Fox News Digital that ...