WNBA choosing Sophie Cunningham over Caitlin Clark isn't even the worst decision made for its 30th anniversary poster

The WNBA’s 30th anniversary poster drew major online debate after it featured Fever guard Sophie Cunningham while leaving out teammate Caitlin Clark. Much of the initial backlash focused on Clark’s role in driving growth in television ratings, attendance, merchandise sales, and overall attention to the league. The article, however, argues that for many longtime fans, Clark’s omission was not the most notable. It points to other prominent absences, including Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird, and Sheryl Swoopes, whose legacies span championships, scoring records, Olympic gold medals, and key early-era influence. Cunningham’s inclusion is portrayed as less controversial because she averages 9.9 points per game and shoots over 40% from three-point range. The WNBA has not explained how the 30 players were selected, leaving fans to debate the criteria behind the artwork and shifting attention away from the anniversary celebration.