WNBA legend Lisa Leslie hit back at general managers who, in an annual survey before the 2025 season, chose Caitlin Clark far less than Paige Bueckers, saying the league’s business runs on Clark’s impact.
When the WNBA asked general managers who they’d rather build around. the answer didn’t just disappoint Caitlin Clark’s backers—it flipped the narrative.. Before the 2025 season, 50% of executives said they’d start a franchise with Clark.. This year. with Clark entering her third season after an injury-riddled sophomore run. the votes moved sharply—only 20% went to her.
The survey, conducted by the league prior to the season opener, instead put Paige Bueckers on top. Clark fell behind as Bueckers received 33% of the vote. And that shift was enough to draw a public, no-holds-barred response from WNBA legend Lisa Leslie.
Leslie. who will soon have a statue erected outside the Crypto.com arena. didn’t soften her criticism toward the GMs who voted against Clark.. “They’re probably gonna get fired,” Leslie said, talking about the executives who didn’t choose Clark.. In her view, the reason is straightforward: “This is a money business and the money is about Caitlin Clark.”
Leslie reinforced that message by connecting Clark’s on-court profile to what she described as real financial outcomes for the league.. She pointed to Clark’s ability to keep teams playing to larger crowds and argued that. in the league’s history. this level of player-driven momentum hasn’t existed in the same way.. On “First Take” with Stephen A.. Smith. Leslie said. “Never in the history of the WNBA. have we had a player force teams to play in larger arenas.”
She then laid out what she described as Clark’s economic pull over the past two seasons. saying Clark has driven roughly 25%+ of the WNBA’s recent economic activity.. In her telling. that influence shows up in record attendance. record ratings. record merchandise sales. massive franchise appreciation. a $2.2B media deal. and expansion fee inflation.
To illustrate her point, Leslie turned to a simple comparison from the season opener to what came next.
In Game 1. the Indiana Fever hosted the Dallas Wings at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. drawing a sellout crowd of 16. 000+ as Clark faced off against Bueckers. with the addition of the WNBA’s No.. 1 overall pick, Azzi Fudd.. But in the next game. when Dallas hosted Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream. Leslie said the Wings couldn’t even fill their 7. 000-seat arena.
“If you’re the GM, you’re obviously supposed to be bringing in money,” Leslie explained.
Her argument reframed what a general manager is expected to do: build rosters, understand the financial side of contracts and player value, and keep a long-term vision aimed at championships. Revenue may not be the only goal, she suggested, but it’s vital.
And while Leslie acknowledged that fans can debate who’s better right now—who is most likely to lead teams to championships—she still leaned into the business case. “I’m going with Caitlin Clark,” she said.
The dispute also has a marketability wrinkle. The piece notes that Kevin Durant’s media company, The Boardroom, believes Bueckers is more marketable than Clark. Yet in Leslie’s view, the vote distribution doesn’t line up with the league-driving force she believes Clark represents.
Leslie’s criticism comes as Clark has reportedly been on the receiving end of what supporters describe as repeated snubs and disrespect over recent years.. The latest survey result adds another layer. with Clark’s 20% compared to Bueckers’ 33% standing out after Clark previously led with 50% before the 2025 season.
On the numbers this season, Clark is averaging 22 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 8 assists, while Bueckers is averaging 20.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 5 assists.. Bueckers has been more efficient from three, some claim she’s a better defender, and she has fewer turnovers.. Still, the argument here is that Clark is creating a larger impact overall on the court.
For Leslie, the bottom line is that the GMs should have followed the money—before someone else forces the conversation. “Hopefully, these GMs will wise up,” she said, adding that they could be told to “pack up their stuff.”
WNBA Lisa Leslie Caitlin Clark Paige Bueckers general managers survey franchise building Indiana Fever Dallas Wings Stephen A. Smith First Take