Colin Cowherd Puts Kelsey Plum in Her Place: The Golden Goose Debate That’s Tearing the WNBA Apart

1. The Pay Raise Parade—and the Shot Heard Around the League

Let’s get one thing straight: nobody’s mad at WNBA players for wanting a raise. After decades of flying budget airlines and playing for peanuts in front of empty seats, these women finally have leverage. The league is on a hot streak—thanks to a single, once-in-a-generation superstar named Caitlin Clark. So when players donned shirts demanding “Pay Us,” the world nodded along. But then Kelsey Plum—All-Star, champion, and now self-appointed spokesperson—couldn’t resist taking a dig at Clark, the very player who turned the league’s fortunes around overnight.

2. The Golden Goose Gets No Love

Enter Colin Cowherd, never one to mince words, who watched this drama unfold and decided enough was enough. While Plum and others were busy throwing shade, Cowherd dropped the hammer: “Why bite the hand that feeds you?” he asked, comparing Clark to Michael Jordan, the man who single-handedly made the NBA a global empire. The numbers don’t lie. Before Clark, WNBA teams were flying on airlines where you had to pay for water. Now they’re chartering private jets. The Fever went from financial disaster to waiting lists for season tickets. Merchandise sales? Up 500%. Attendance? Up 40%. All because of one “golden goose.”

3. Motel 6 to Four Seasons—And Still Complaining

Cowherd’s analogy was brutal and brilliant: “You were in a band playing Motel 6, then Caitlin Clark joined and suddenly you’re at the Four Seasons. Stop talking.” He’s right. For years, WNBA players begged for more respect, more fans, more money. Now, with Clark packing arenas and breaking TV records, some veterans act like it’s business as usual—or worse, like they resent the change. It’s the ultimate irony: you get everything you ever wanted, but can’t stand the person who delivered it.

4. The Jealousy Problem: All-Star Voting Exposes the Rift

If you want to see just how deep the jealousy runs, look no further than the All-Star voting. Fans ranked Clark first among guards. Players? They put her ninth—behind her own teammates, behind players with nowhere near her impact. It wasn’t about stats. It was about sending a message: “You’re not one of us.” Cowherd called it what it was—pettiness, pure and simple. The same players who blamed sexism and lack of promotion for years are now sabotaging the league’s savior.

5. The Michael Jordan Parallel—and Why It Matters

Cowherd didn’t stop there. He drew the line straight to Michael Jordan. When MJ hit the NBA, some veterans grumbled, but most recognized the tidal wave of change and rode it to fame and fortune. Clark is doing the same for the WNBA—breaking records, selling out arenas, and making everyone richer. Yet, instead of embracing the windfall, some are trying to freeze her out. It’s like the Bulls refusing to pass to Jordan because he was “too popular.” Ridiculous then, embarrassing now.

6. The Hard Truth: You Can’t Fight the Wave

Here’s the reality check: the WNBA is finally profitable, and Clark is the reason. TV deals, sponsor money, and those long-awaited pay raises all depend on her star power. Cowherd’s message was simple—stop biting the hand that feeds you. You don’t have to like the wave, but you’d better ride it. The league’s future is being written in real time, and those who fight it will get left behind.

7. The Locker Room Divide: Who’s Smart Enough to Adapt?

Some players get it. Lexie Hull, Aaliyah Boston, Sophie Cunningham—they’re building chemistry with Clark, understanding that collaboration is the path to championships and bigger paychecks. Others, like Plum, seem determined to make it personal. The league is splitting into two camps: those who embrace the Clark Era and those who resent it. Only one side is going to win.

8. The Verdict: Grow Up, Cash In, or Get Left Behind

Cowherd’s closing shot was vintage: “It’s time to grow up, girls. Like, fast.” The WNBA has a golden ticket in Caitlin Clark. The smart play is to cash in, work together, and make this the best women’s league in the world. The alternative? Watch as the momentum stalls, the fans drift away, and the league misses its moment—again.