## WNBA Players Struggle with Media Scrutiny, According to OutKick and Christine Brennan **News Title:** Christine Brennan Confirms The Obvious: WNBA Players Can’t Handle Real Media Coverage **Report Provider:** OutKick **Author:** Dan Zaksheske **Publication Date:** July 6, 2025, 5:18 PM EDT This report from OutKick, citing USA Today reporter Christine Brennan, argues that WNBA players are ill-equipped to handle the increased media attention and scrutiny that has accompanied the league's growing popularity, largely driven by star player Caitlin Clark. ### Key Findings and Conclusions: * **Inability to Handle Scrutiny:** The central argument is that WNBA players, having been "shielded" during their college careers, lack the experience and polish to deal with "real media coverage," which includes challenging questions and criticism. * **Desire for Positive Coverage:** The WNBA Players' Association (WNBAPA) is accused of reacting negatively to legitimate media inquiries, suggesting a preference for exclusively positive and "flowery" coverage rather than engaging with critical aspects of the sport. * **League's Failure to Prepare Players:** OutKick contends that the WNBA league and its communications representatives have failed to adequately prepare players for the level of media attention and questioning they now face. * **OutKick's Experience:** The report details OutKick's own experience, claiming the league initially attempted to "blackball" them for asking direct questions, but later relented after their tactics were exposed. ### Key Incidents and Examples: * **Brittney Griner Question:** OutKick highlights that for three weeks, no media member asked Brittney Griner about a viral moment where she was alleged to have said "f***ing white girls." When the question was eventually asked (by OutKick, according to the report), Griner denied it, and the attention surrounding the incident subsided. * **DiJonai Carrington Incident:** Christine Brennan, identified as a "left-wing" reporter, reportedly faced backlash from the WNBAPA for asking DiJonai Carrington if she intentionally poked Caitlin Clark in the eye during a game. The WNBAPA allegedly demanded Brennan lose her media access for posing this "reasonable" and necessary question. ### Expert Opinion and Quotes: * **WNBA Official's Statement:** In an excerpt from her upcoming book, "On Her Game: Caitlin Clark and the Revolution in Women’s Sports," Brennan quotes a WNBA official stating: "Unfortunately, most of our players have zero idea what real media exposure is... They don’t know what real coverage is, they have been shielded at college, and then they come to the WNBA not knowing what real questions are. Frankly, our players just don’t get it." * **OutKick's Stance:** OutKick reiterates this sentiment, asserting that WNBA players have never experienced "real media" and are not equipped to handle it, with the league's attempts to shield them only exacerbating the problem. ### Trends and Concerns: * **Increased Media Attention:** The rise of Caitlin Clark has brought unprecedented media attention to the WNBA, creating a new environment for players and the league. * **Player Preparedness:** A significant concern raised is the lack of preparedness among players to navigate this heightened media landscape, particularly when faced with challenging or critical questions. * **League's Media Strategy:** The report suggests the WNBA's strategy of shielding players rather than preparing them is counterproductive and highlights underlying issues within the league's media relations. ### Recommendations (Implied): While not explicitly stated as recommendations, the report implies that the WNBA and its players need to: * **Embrace Scrutiny:** Accept that increased attention comes with criticism and the need to answer difficult questions. * **Develop Media Training:** Implement robust media training for players to equip them with the skills to handle diverse media interactions. * **Foster Transparency:** Engage with all media outlets, including those asking tough questions, to promote a more open and accountable environment.
Christine Brennan Confirms The Obvious: WNBA Players Can’t Handle Real Media Coverage
Read original at OutKick →As OutKick has written many times, the WNBA and its players just don't get itPublishedJuly 6, 2025 5:18 PM EDT•UpdatedJuly 6, 2025 5:18 PM EDTThe WNBA received an unbelievable gift last summer and her name is Caitlin Clark. For the first time in the league's history, it had a star that actually moved the needle among casual sports fans.
But with Clark and the added public attention came additional media coverage. And that's where the league and its players have simply failed. The problem was always obvious: these women had never received media coverage like what they were about to face. The WNBA should have prepared them for it, but there's an inherent problem with that idea.
WNBA communications reps were also unprepared to handle the added attention on the league. OutKick has seen this firsthand. The league essentially attempted to blackball us for asking actual questions to players. Then, after we exposed their tactics, they caved and finally allowed us to ask Brittney Griner if she said "f***ing white girls" during a viral moment.
Three weeks went by and not one media member simply asked her that question. By the way, after Griner denied that's what she said, the attention around that moment died. Christine Brennan, a longtime USA Today reporter who is about as left-wing as they come, found herself in a precarious spot last season.
She was the only media member who asked DiJonai Carrington if she purposefully poked Caitlin Clark in the eye during a game. And the WNBA Players' Association lost its mind, demanding that Brennan lose her media access for even asking the question. USA Today reporter Christine Brennan learned firsthand that WNBA players aren't used to real media coverage and they displayed their clear lack of polish many times.
(Imagn Images)The question was completely reasonable. Actually, "reasonable" isn't even the proper word. That question HAD to be asked. It's a dereliction of duty as a "journalist" to not ask the question. Just like it was when no one asked Griner about what she said. For the WNBAPA to react the way it did showed its hand.
The players don't want real media coverage. They want flowery, positive coverage and nothing else. Sorry, that's not the way it works. With attention comes money, fame, and all the things the WNBA players claim to want. But it also comes with criticism. Unfortunately, WNBA players aren't equipped to handle that last piece.
In an excerpt from her upcoming book, On Her Game: Caitlin Clark and the Revolution in Women’s Sports, Brennan says a WNBA official told her that the players "just don't get it." "Unfortunately, most of our players have zero idea what real media exposure is," the league official told Brennan. "They don’t know what real coverage is, they have been shielded at college, and then they come to the WNBA not knowing what real questions are.
Frankly, our players just don’t get it."Yes, this is what OutKick has been writing for over a year. WNBA players cannot deal with real media because they've never experienced it in their lives. And instead of training them to handle it, or at the very least forcing them to handle it and learn how to adapt, the league has tried to continue shielding them.
And that doesn't work. It only shines a brighter light on the problems plaguing the league.
