“Stars Are Privately Happy”: Caitlin Clark’s All-Star Absence Will Enlighten WNBA Players, Claims Skip Bayless

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark will not be suiting up for the 2025 WNBA All-Star Weekend. She will miss the three-point contest and the All-Star game, much to the dismay of fans. Unfortunately, Clark currently suffers from a groin injury, which she aggravated in the Fever’s 85-77 win over the Connecticut Sun.

While fans have been devastated by the news, sports analyst Skip Bayless believes that Clark’s absence will only delight other WNBA stars.

Strangely, the discourse surrounding Clark is that her contemporaries are jealous of her skill and fame. During her rookie season, she was notably the victim of countless senseless physicality. It was this that brought analysts like Skip Bayless to this conclusion.

Despite the controversial nature of his analysis, he has been calling out the WNBA for its treatment of Clark. After all, she is considered a direct reason for the league’s increase in popularity over the past season and a half. Now, her absence could mean a drastic change in viewership numbers for the All-Star game. But Bayless doesn’t believe Clark’s peers are too sorry about that.

“No doubt other stars are privately happy Caitlin Clark will miss the WNBA’s All-Star weekend so they can get more of the attention they believe they deserve,” Bayless said in a post on X.

It should be noted that WNBA stars like A’ja Wilson, Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers, and Sabrina Ionescu will be present to help boost the numbers.

Previously, Reese has shown open disdain for the assumption that Clark is the only reason people tune in to watch the WNBA and has asked the press to put some respect on her name.“The reason why we’re watching women’s basketball is not just because of one person. It’s because of me, too. I want y’all to realize that,” Reese said following a Chicago Sky practice in 2024.

Reese and Clark’s rivalry dates back to their collegiate careers at LSU and Iowa, respectively. Unfortunately, Bayless doesn’t believe many fans will be taking notice if players such as Reese perform well now that Clark is on the sidelines.

“Instead, plummeting ratings will drive home the fact she is by far the biggest reason for the W’s exploding popularity,” he proclaimed. The game will take place on Saturday, July 19, at 8:30 PM ET on ABC. And perhaps we’ll finally find out if Skip is right this time.